Perception of the cultural landscape related to wind parks – Generation Y perspective

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the perception of cultural landscape by local communities, with emphasis on representatives of Generation Y in the sense of people aged between 16 and 34 in the context of the development of wind energy identified through the location of wind-power plants. We have chosen to study the commune of Dąbrowa Chełmińska (LAU-2,Kuyavian-PomeranianVoivodeship[województwokujawsko-pomorskie],NUTS-2), a suburban area housing one of the oldest wind-power plants in Poland as well as modern installations. We achieved the aim of this paper by conducting a bipartite study using questionnaire interviews and Wejchert’s impression-curve method. The analyses we have performed indicate that matters related to cultural landscape engage every resident of the commune, yet primarily the younger generation: Generation Y. This is a social group interested in processes, which are currently underway, especially those regarding innovation and ecological actions. The study shows that the perception of cultural landscape comprising wind-power plants by the local community, including Generation Y, is primarily ambivalent. We are dealing with diverse, sometimes even contrasting opinions, both among young people and the generation of their parents and grandparents. Generation Y gives a more negative assessment of the presence of wind turbines in cultural landscape than the generation of parents and grandparents. It may seem surprising that in the view of the respondents, wind-power plants do not dominate the landscape, although representatives of Generation Y stated that they should be removed as elements disharmonising the landscape.