Thank you to everyone that provided feedback on the first round of consultation. The consultation ran from 6th August until 4th November and received 99 contributions. The initial consultation was an idea gathering exercise which has helped us create more defined proposals for you to feed back on. The second consultation is scheduled for autumn.

Below are the main findings from feedback received from online surveys, paper surveys at events, postal surveys and emails received during the first round of consultation:

How do the changes to your local area make you feel?

📋In our hypothetical engagement project, we set out to create an inclusive and empowering community for young environmental activists. Through a meticulously designed online platform, we offered a dynamic space for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development.

🤝The project's success stemmed from its emphasis on active participation, fostering genuine connections, and celebrating small victories. Regular virtual meet-ups, expert-led webinars, and interactive challenges encouraged lively discussion.

🌼Project: A community garden was created in an underserved neighbourhood. The garden was designed to provide fresh produce for residents, as well as a space for people to connect with each other and learn about gardening.

🗣️Engagement: The project was highly successful in engaging the community. Over 1000 people volunteered to help build the garden, and hundreds more participated in workshops and events. The garden was also a popular spot for people to relax and socialise.

👍Sentiment: The sentiment towards the project was generally positive. Residents were grateful for the fresh produce and the opportunity to have a safe and welcoming space to gather. The project also helped to build a sense of community in the neighbourhood.

What's the most important thing to you about your local green space?

The chart displays the priorities of respondents regarding their local green spaces:

🏞️"Enjoying nature" and ☀️"Spending time outdoors" are the top priorities, with each receiving six votes, highlighting a strong preference for experiencing the natural environment.

In contrast, 🧑‍🤝‍🧑"Meeting friends" and 🏀"Sports or activities" are less significant, with only one vote each, indicating lower interest in social or recreational uses in these spaces.

What would you like to see in a new Pocket Park? (Pivoted by age)

This chart shows preferences for amenities in a new pocket park, broken down by age group:

Across all ages, popular choices include 🌲"trees for shade," 🚻 "public toilets," and 🛝 "play equipment," indicating a desire for practical and recreational features. 

Some age groups, particularly younger respondents, show interest in 🚲"cycle parking" and 🌷"community gardens," reflecting diverse needs across generations.

What other suggestions do you have?

The word cloud from the consultation reveals a strong emphasis on:

🧑‍🤝‍🧑"community," 🌳"public space," and :🌿 "area," indicating residents’ interest in shared and accessible spaces. 

Key terms such as:

 🤝"collaboration," 👥 "involvement," and 🧑‍⚖️ "governance" suggest a desire for active participation and cooperation in planning processes. 

Additionally, elements like 🛣️ "infrastructure,"  ⛰️"environment," and 🏗️ "sustainability" reflect a focus on creating a well-structured, eco-friendly urban environment.

“I believe they [elderly people] should be included in your emphasis as late at night we also feel vulnerable and that does restrict how we participate in the community.” 

“Thank goodness someone is doing something to combat gender and race-based violence, very encouraging” 

How often do you visit green spaces for each of the following reasons?

The chart shows how frequently people visit green spaces for various activities:

🏃Exercise and 🐕dog walking are the most common reasons, with these activities occurring multiple times per week for many respondents.

In contrast, 🚲bike rides and 🤾play areas are visited less frequently, with many people reporting they use green spaces for these activities less than once a week or never.

Please rank the issues below in order of impact they have on your enjoyment of a green space

The chart illustrates the ranking of issues affecting enjoyment in green spaces:

 🚮 Litter and 🤬 anti-social behaviour are ranked as the top concerns, with both receiving high priority across respondents.

Issues like 🐩 dog mess and 🚴 cycling on footpaths are of moderate concern, while cycling on dedicated paths is the least impactful on enjoyment.

Engaging the community: who responded?

Thank you for taking time to contribute to the survey. On this page you can learn more about who else contributed to the survey!

Project visitors

📈The project website experiences regular weekly spikes in visitor traffic, with the highest peak reaching nearly 150 visitors on October 4, 2024.

📈Direct traffic is the primary driver of these spikes, while organic, referral, and email traffic remain minimal and steady. Increasing efforts in SEO, partnerships, and content marketing could help sustain visitor levels and diversify traffic sources.

What is your age?

The majority of respondents were aged between 16-34 years old which was expected, there was also a higher number of over 85 year olds responding following a focused strategy to reach the older demographic.

What is your gender?

This chart shows that there was an even split between those who identify as men and women responding to the survey. 10% of respondents identified as non-binary with the rest preferring not to share how they identify.

How do you usually travel in or around the area?

The chart shows that the most common modes of travel around the area which are:

🚆Train, 🚕 Taxi or other cab, 🚗Car (passenger), and 🚶Walking, each with around 10 respondents.

 🛴Scooter and 🚌 Bus are also popular options, while 🏃Jogging/running and Commercial vehicle have the fewest users. Encouraging alternative transport modes like 🚴Cycling or 🚶Walking could diversify travel patterns and potentially reduce car reliance.