Community Gardening and Healthy Aging: An exploration of nutritional, health, social and sustainability impacts in the UK

Community gardens and allotments may have positive benefits that include nutritional, social and sustainability outcomes. In the UK, with increased longevity, there is a growing need for more targeted interventions to improve the health and mobility of adults. In the UK there is both a growing popularity of shared community gardens and continued popularity of food allotment gardens in adults and older adults, making the UK ideal to study if these may be of benefit in adults and older adults.  Most community gardens research has been focused on schools, which will likely experience different impacts due to age and health differentials. There is little research in adults and these impacts are likely to be different due to, for instance, a higher risk of chronic disease development and social isolation. The current study will examine potential and actual impacts on health, nutrient consumption, social connectedness and sustainability practices in adults involved or becoming involved in allotment and community gardens in Yorkshire. <br /> <br /> The project will be based at the University of Leeds, main campus in the School of Food Science in Nutrition, where there is a thriving research community and significant expertise in Public Health Nutrition. This project is a research training opportunity at the intersection of nutrition, public health, psychology and sustainability. The successful candidate will develop expertise in mixed methods research design, dietary analysis methods, and other subject specific research skills. 

<p><strong>Research Methodology</strong></p> <p>The project is expected to involve some shorter studies with some of these methods e.g.</p> <ol> <li>Mixed Methods Study: qualitative and quantative methods to capture participant data</li> <li>Dietary Intake Data collection</li> <li>A further study of your choice: some sort of related short intervention or cohort comparison study.  </li> </ol> <p><strong>Expected Impact</strong></p> <p>This studies will make a relevant contribution to impact on evidence supporting healthy aging initiatives in the UK. It may also have findings of relevance to social prescribing and reablement agendas.  </p> <p><strong>Candidate Profile and Research Environment</strong></p> <p>This project is a research training opportunity at the intersection of nutrition, public health, psychology and sustainability.The successful candidate will develop expertise in mixed methods research design, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, dietary analysis methods, and other research skills that will set them up for a research career in a growing field. The project would suit an individual with a strong interest in human nutrition, human behaviour and sustainability behaviour change.<br />  </p>

<p paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{113}" paraid="1539768372"><strong>You must contact the proposed supervisor for this project before you make a formal application. </strong></p> <p paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{119}" paraid="1895649428">A formal application for research degree study should then be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN: </p> <ul> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{125}" paraid="1717955186">For ‘Application type’ please select ‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’. </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{131}" paraid="1941411394">The admission year for this project is 2026/27 Academic Year.   </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{137}" paraid="1823221166">You will need to select your ‘Planned Course of Study’ from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select ‘PhD Food Science and Nutrition Full-time’.   </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{143}" paraid="754352421">The project start date for this project is October 2026, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research. </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{149}" paraid="202248598">Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is ‘Community Gardening and Healthy Aging: An exploration of nutritional, health, social and sustainability impacts in the UK’ as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/staff/13136/katherine-markwell">Dr Katherine Markwell</a> as your proposed supervisor. </li> </ul> <p paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{155}" paraid="812110430">If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). </p> <p paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{161}" paraid="1891516213">More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. You will need to provide copies of the following documents: </p> <ul> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{172}" paraid="1858125611">a personal statement for this project, which outlines your interest in the project, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project (or research proposal) </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{178}" paraid="877561217">your CV </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{184}" paraid="1448270499">certificates and transcripts of all academic qualifications </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{190}" paraid="932080590">English language qualification certificates </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{196}" paraid="1315959137">visa and immigration documents, if applicable </li> <li paraeid="{cc558561-e300-45f5-a898-3bd20c9a5968}{202}" paraid="226045984">funding information – sources of funding that you are applying for (e.g. government scholarship), or if you are able to pay your own fees and maintenance  </li> </ul> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability. </em></p>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.

For start dates from September 2026, the minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study in the School of Food Science and Nutrition is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p paraeid="{3d04e34c-3522-40f3-8630-c6f14cbc41d0}{143}" paraid="557166827"><strong>This is not a funded project, but you can apply for funding separately. Self-funding students are also welcome to apply. </strong></p> <p paraeid="{3d04e34c-3522-40f3-8630-c6f14cbc41d0}{149}" paraid="1936376053"><strong>Please note that in addition to the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-fees/doc/research-degrees-fees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">tuition fee</a> for the programme there will also be a <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-fees/doc/postgraduate-research-bench-policy" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">bench fee</a> of £5,000 per year for this project.   </strong></p> <p paraeid="{3d04e34c-3522-40f3-8630-c6f14cbc41d0}{149}" paraid="1936376053">Funding opportunities for Home students – The <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/209-leeds-doctoral-scholarships-2026" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Leeds Doctoral Scholarship</a> and <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/234-leeds-opportunity-research-scholarship-2026" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship</a> are available to UK applicants.  <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/60-alumni-bursary" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Alumni Bursary</a> is available to graduates of the University of Leeds. </p> <p paraeid="{3d04e34c-3522-40f3-8630-c6f14cbc41d0}{194}" paraid="629442306">Funding opportunities for International students –The <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/48-china-scholarship-council-university-of-leeds-scholarships-2021" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">China Scholarship Council - University of Leeds Scholarship</a> is available to nationals of China. <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/60-alumni-bursary" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Alumni Bursary</a> is available to graduates of the University of Leeds. </p>

<p>For further information regarding the project, please contact Dr Katherine Markwell by email (<a href="mailto:k.e.markwell@leeds.ac.uk">k.e.markwell@leeds.ac.uk</a>). You must contact Katherine before making a formal application.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>