A Hartpury University researcher has co-authored a new book exploring the complex relationships between animals, people and the environments used for sport and recreation.
Dr Chris Pawson, Reader in Anthrozoology at Hartpury University, is one of three authors of Animal Behaviour, Welfare, and Interactions in Sports and Recreational Environments, published by Routledge on 3 September 2026.
Co-authored with John T. Hancock and Ros C. Rouse from the University of the West of England, the book brings together expertise spanning biology, animal behaviour, anthrozoology and psychology to consider how animals interact with sports grounds and leisure facilities around the world.
From the smallest nematodes beneath our feet to large mammals, the book examines the many species that share spaces designed and managed primarily for human recreation, and how those interactions can be managed while prioritising animal welfare and conservation.
It explores environments where the presence of animals may be actively encouraged as well as situations where facilities need to manage or discourage particular species, considering how this can be achieved while supporting positive experiences for people and the health and welfare of both human and non-human animals.
Topics range from worms, insects, birds and rodents to bats, companion animals and larger species. The book also considers aquatic environments, relevant laws and regulations, and the relationship between healthy wildlife and healthy humans through a One Health perspective.
At the heart of the book is an invitation to reconsider how animals are perceived in spaces heavily managed by humans. Rather than viewing wildlife simply as a nuisance or source of conflict, the authors encourage those responsible for sport and leisure environments to better understand the species with which these spaces are shared.
Dr Chris Pawson, Reader in Anthrozoology at Hartpury University, said: “The animals we encounter in sport and recreational environments can range from tiny organisms in the soil to birds, companion animals and large mammals, and those interactions can have implications for animal welfare, conservation and human experience.
“The book gives us an opportunity to look differently at the animals with which we share these environments and consider how greater biological and behavioural understanding can help us manage those relationships responsibly and with respect.”
The subject reflects the interdisciplinary nature of research and teaching at Hartpury, where the relationships between animals, people and their environments are explored across areas including animal behaviour and welfare, anthrozoology, agriculture and sport.
Anthrozoology, the study of interactions and relationships between humans and other animals, is an established area of research and postgraduate study at Hartpury University.
The University’s research in animal and agriculture-related disciplines seeks to contribute to improvements in animal welfare, human-animal interactions and the sustainable management of animals and their environments, while its extensive sports facilities and expertise provide another perspective on the recreational environments considered within the new publication. The book’s cross-disciplinary approach also reflects the increasing importance of One Health, recognising the connections between the health and wellbeing of people, animals and their shared environments.
Dr Pawson’s contribution is the latest example of Hartpury academics contributing their knowledge and research to publications with relevance beyond academia, helping to inform professional practice and wider conversations around animals and their welfare.
Learn more about Hartpury University’s Animal degrees here or check out postgraduate study options here.
