Wellness Garden Survey Results

Our community’s support has been integral in guiding the design and development of the Wellness Garden at The Oval. Back in March 2022, we conducted a survey to gather insights into what residents would like to see in a space dedicated to wellbeing, relaxation, and community engagement. With over 90% of respondents expressing strong support, the feedback has validated our vision for the Wellness Garden and provided a roadmap for features that cater to the community’s needs.

Key Findings

Age Distribution: The majority of respondents are within the 30-44 (34.4%) and 45-59 (39.3%) age groups, highlighting strong interest among adults in their prime working years who are likely looking for convenient wellness options. There is also notable representation from older adults (60+, 19.7%), indicating the garden’s appeal for retirement-age residents who benefit significantly from accessible outdoor wellness spaces. This age diversity supports the need for a range of activities that cater to all age groups, from young adults to seniors.

Support for the Wellness Garden: A remarkable 80.3% of respondents strongly agree that Cliftonville would benefit from a wellness garden, with an additional 13.1% in agreement. With over 93% expressing support, this consensus underscores a high demand and broad community backing for the project. These findings informed our planning application to Thanet District Council (TDC), which was unanimously approved by councillors at a planning committee meeting on 18th September. This approval reinforces our shared vision to create a wellness-focused space that serves the entire Cliftonville community.

Gardening Interest: Communal gardening emerged as a top interest, with 54.1% of respondents favouring shared raised beds. Only 13.1% preferred their own dedicated space, while 31.1% had no interest in gardening. The strong interest in communal gardening aligns with the garden’s goals of fostering social connection and community engagement. In response to this feedback, we are excited to announce the development of a dedicated Ecology Hub within the garden maintenance area. The hub will feature communal potting benches, raised beds, and a greenhouse, all designed to support community gardening and ecological initiatives.

Preferred Activities: The survey revealed a strong community interest in activities that foster creativity, social connections, and environmental engagement within the Wellness Garden. Residents showed enthusiasm for nature-oriented and social activities, with each type attracting significant support across diverse age groups and interests.

Creative Workshops (9.2%): Many respondents highlighted a desire for hands-on creative activities. These workshops could involve anything from art and crafting sessions to gardening projects, offering a space for self-expression and skill-building. The popularity of creative workshops underscores a need for regular, interactive opportunities that allow residents to gather, learn, and share creative experiences in an outdoor setting.
Biodiversity Support (9.9%): The highest-ranking activity, biodiversity support, indicates a strong local interest in ecological initiatives. Activities such as planting native species, maintaining wildlife habitats, and learning about local flora and fauna appeal to those who are eager to engage with nature and support sustainability efforts. This preference aligns well with The Oval’s ecological goals, ensuring the garden not only serves as a wellness space but also contributes to environmental awareness and conservation.
Social Events (8.3%): Respondents also expressed a high level of interest in social gatherings, highlighting the community’s enthusiasm for events that bring people together. Social events can provide a relaxed, inclusive environment for residents to connect and unwind. This focus on socialising suggests that the Wellness Garden can become a key space for community-building and fostering relationships within Cliftonville.
Art in the Park (9.2%): Like creative workshops, Art in the Park events would offer unique opportunities for residents to engage with the arts in a natural setting. Whether through art installations, live painting, or art classes, these events encourage artistic expression and make the arts more accessible to the community. The popularity of this activity reflects an appreciation for cultural experiences, and incorporating art events into the Wellness Garden could further enhance its appeal as a versatile space.
Exercise and Fitness Activities, such as the “Community Gym” (5.4%): The interest in fitness activities highlights a demand for accessible exercise options. The development of a free-to-use Outdoor Community Gym would cater to this need, providing equipment and space for fitness within a natural, open environment. This aligns with the garden’s wellness mission, supporting both physical and mental health through regular exercise.

Collectively, these preferences point to a strong desire for a Wellness Garden that emphasises creativity, environmental engagement, and social connection. By incorporating these elements, The Oval can create a community-oriented garden that offers residents diverse, enriching experiences and promotes overall wellbeing. This feedback from the survey is instrumental in guiding the garden’s design and activities, ensuring it aligns with the interests and needs of the Cliftonville community.

Frequency of Garden Use: A significant portion of respondents (26.2%) plans to visit the garden one or two times a month, while 16.4% anticipate weekly visits, and 9.8% plan daily visits. This anticipated frequency of use validates the importance of durable, accessible features that can accommodate regular visitors and support various activities across the month.

Demographics and Reach of the Wellness Garden: The survey on the Wellness Garden revealed strong local and regional interest, establishing its potential as a valued community asset. Nearly half of respondents (44.3%) are based in Cliftonville West, highlighting local support, while 26.2% are from Cliftonville East, indicating significant interest from the surrounding area. Additionally, 16.4% of respondents are from other wards in Thanet, showcasing broader regional support. Margate Central and Dane Valley contribute 9.8% and 3.3% of respondents, respectively, further demonstrating the garden’s appeal beyond Cliftonville. These demographics underscore the Wellness Garden’s role in promoting wellness and social interaction across the community.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The survey results offer clear guidance for developing a Wellness Garden that meets the needs of Cliftonville’s residents:

Community Backing: With near-unanimous support, the Wellness Garden is set to be a valued addition to the community. This level of backing is a strong asset for funding proposals, helping to showcase both community interest and the garden’s anticipated impact on wellbeing.

Focus on Social and Communal Spaces: The preference for communal gardening, workshops, and social events emphasizes the importance of designing spaces that encourage social interaction, learning, and collaboration. These elements can support mental wellness by fostering a sense of community.

Design for Frequent Use: Given the regular planned visits, it’s essential to ensure that the garden is durable and low-maintenance. Facilities should be easy to care for, with infrastructure that can support consistent use and encourage ongoing engagement.

Broad Appeal Across Age Groups: The garden should offer a mix of low-impact options (such as workshops and gardening) and active offerings (like the Outdoor Community Gym) to engage a variety of ages and fitness levels.

Moving Forward

The results of the March 2022 survey were instrumental in informing our planning application, which we submitted to Thanet District Council in December 2023. We are pleased to announce that on 18th September 2024, the application was unanimously approved by councillors at a planning committee meeting. This approval has set the foundation for creating a community space that truly reflects the needs and desires of Cliftonville residents.

Community gardening was highlighted as a popular interest in the survey, and we’re excited to expand on this by creating a dedicated Ecology Hub at The Oval’s garden maintenance area. The hub will feature communal potting benches, raised beds, and a greenhouse, all designed to support community gardening initiatives and encourage ecological awareness and engagement among residents.

Building on the success of the Wellness Garden survey, we have now launched a new survey to better understand what residents want from the free-to-use outdoor community gym. This survey will guide the design and features of the gym, ensuring it provides accessible and valuable fitness opportunities for all ages and abilities. Please complete the survey at Community Gym Survey.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our surveys and provided feedback. Your input continues to shape The Oval’s vision, making it a place for the whole community to enjoy wellness, fitness, and a closer connection to nature!

Really hope this can go ahead. Would help me living in a flat with no garden to go and relax outside to get away from the world! – Cliftonville West Resident

This is a fantastic project that I hope will inspire young people to love and care for their environment. There are some acts of vandalism in the local area so maybe involving the perpetrators in the creation of the garden might prevent that happening in this space – Cliftonville East Resident

Fantastic idea! Could there possibly be a plinth like in Trafalgar Square and it could be used to display sculptures on a rotating basis to continually bring interest to the space. Could there be a potential for people to plant memorial trees in the orchard? Could there be some fixed chess tables or something like that to encourage people to interact and make friends in a calm and tranquil place? Just love the idea. How about a cutting and seed library a bit like the little library but instead of books people bring and swap seeds and cuttings? – Cliftonville West Resident

Besides a small model village, a rose garden would also be lovely for a wellness garden. With scented tea roses. Kent is famous for their roses and I always use a local grower (Eastcroft) in Rochester, and the seaweed makes for perfect mulch. They are quite easy to upkeep, just need some pruning and a yearly mulch. – Cliftonville East Resident

A wellness garden is a great idea, community planting, seed and plant exchanges, a drinking water tap would be very welcome, seating areas spread out for peace and quiet. Sounds like a little bit of heaven. – Thanet Resident

There would need to be a way that this area is managed and not trashed and used as a drinking area like so many other areas close by. It needs to be safe and free from graffiti and dangers so even the most elderly of residents can use the area comfortably. – Cliftonville West Resident

Eco therapy is becoming much more prominent and a really interesting theory. This will be fabulous. – Cliftonville West Resident

For the outdoor gym (maybe this is the wrong survey to comment) please research and ask people who do callisthenics, provide a suitable pull up bar and a dip bar. They are cheap compared to the fancy outdoor machines which are less popular, even if they are aimed at elderly people they are very often forgotten about and not used. It would be more valuable to provide equipment for adults wanting to use them and can’t afford a gym membership. Ask people who do callisthenics what they would require before installing. – Cliftonville East Resident