Signage study at UK’s Arboretum explores new ways to foster environmental literacy
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 23, 2025) — Walk through any arboretum, and you will find signs that guide your experience, naming plants, offering insights into the ecosystem’s role, or even helping you find your way around. However, many signs fall short of connecting with visitors or sparking a deeper understanding.
My name is Bailey Little, and I study Environmental and Sustainability Studies and English. I am currently developing an inventory for the signage at The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky.
A survey run before the pandemic revealed that the signs around The Arboretum were being read; however, they struggled to meet The Arboretum’s educational goals. Rewriting the signs around The Arboretum to better reflect The Arboretum’s mission is a big task.
