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Paper short abstract

In this paper we give an account of an ongoing design-research project developing prototypes and new modes of engagement for multispecies encounters on Redmires Reservoir; a nature reserve in Sheffield (UK) owned by an unpopular water company and managed by a local Wildlife Trust.

Paper long abstract

Redmires Reservoirs provides a particularly thorny illustration to complicate claims that human-animal relationships can offer win-win health benefits. We have found during our research that the leisure practices of human (and dog) visitors championed for providing both physical and mental wellbeing benefits is in many cases threatening those of the often rare and in some cases endangered species such as water vole, ground nesting, and wading birds that reside and visit here.

Our engagement with this site has brought about several challenges that we unpack in this paper: We find a set of protagonists and non-innocent relations that appear irreconcilable; unable to 'make house' and live well together. We also find conservation practices that require upholding nature-culture bifurcations materially by way of signs, fences and trenches. As designers and design-researchers, the site challenges typical expectations of us; that we may be able 'solve problems', foster behaviour changes, or provide some kind of techno-fix. Rather, there appear to be no ‘right’ answers, or easy fixes. We also find that the site challenges the multispecies, more-than-human and care literature, that we find often privileges beautiful descriptions of entangled relationships and co-becomings that in our view can neutralise antagonistic multi-species entanglements, their politics and forms of agency. We have found ourselves asking what new stories, and ways of relaying these stories might be fostered (or required) that helps us better understand, make sense of, and design in, with, and for this place and its inhabitants.