About the project

This project evaluated Appletree Community Garden, a community wellbeing space in Wakefield managed by Spectrum People, to understand its contribution to mental wellbeing, social connection and wider social and economic value. Appletree provides a safe, non-clinical environment where adults, young people and children experiencing social isolation, mental ill-health and other life challenges can connect with nature, take part in creative and purposeful activities and build supportive relationships.

Project overview

The University of Huddersfield worked in partnership with Spectrum People to undertake an independent mixed methods evaluation of Appletree Community Garden. The project combined participant surveys, focus groups and staff interviews to explore experiences of the garden, wellbeing, social connection and perceived changes in use of health and support services. A light-touch economic analysis was also undertaken to provide an indicative estimate of potential value associated with reduced service use. Together, these different strands provided an evidence base to support Spectrum People in demonstrating outcomes, developing the service and making the case for its longer term sustainability.

Aims and Objectives

• To assess participants’ mental wellbeing using a validated wellbeing measure. 
• To explore participants’ experiences of engaging with Appletree Community Garden. 
• To understand staff perspectives on delivery, outcomes and operational challenges. 
• To explore changes in health and support service use reported by participants. 
• To estimate indicative social and economic value associated with the garden.

Our Approach

The project used a mixed methods service evaluation designed to capture both participant outcomes and the experiences behind them. Key activities included:

• Participant surveys incorporating the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) and questions about health and support service use. 
• Focus groups with garden participants to explore wellbeing, belonging, social connection and experiences of Appletree. 
• Staff interviews examining delivery, observed outcomes, operational challenges and sustainability. 
• Indicative economic analysis using national unit-cost data to illustrate potential value associated with reported reductions in service use. 

This approach enabled the evaluation to combine descriptive wellbeing data with detailed accounts of how and why participants value the garden.

Impact

BThe evaluation found that Appletree:

• Provides a safe and non-judgemental space that supports belonging, social connection and emotional wellbeing. 
• Creates opportunities for nature-based and creative activity, routine and a sense of purpose. 
• Offers a form of informal and relational support that can complement formal health and social care services.
• Shows indicative potential to reduce reliance on some health and support services, although these findings are based on self-reported data and should be interpreted cautiously. 

The findings provide Spectrum People with evidence to support future funding discussions, partnership development and the continued development of Appletree as a community-based wellbeing resource.

Looking Ahead

.The evaluation recommends maintaining Appletree’s inclusive and low-pressure ethos while strengthening referral pathways, partnerships and long-term funding arrangements. Future work should also develop more consistent outcome monitoring such as baseline and follow-up measures, to strengthen evidence of change over time and better understand Appletree’s social and economic contribution. Together, these developments could help strengthen Appletree’s role within wider green social prescribing, creative health and community-based prevention approaches across Wakefield and West Yorkshire.