Evaluating the Social and Economic Contribution of Appletree Community Garden

This mixed methods evaluation examined the contribution of Appletree Community Garden, a community garden in Wakefield managed by Spectrum People, to participant mental wellbeing and indicative social and economic value. The evaluation combined a survey that incorporated the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) (n=16), focus groups with participants and interviews with staff and volunteers. Findings indicated participants reported positive wellbeing outcomes, increased social connection, emotional support and reduced reliance on some formal health and support services. Qualitative findings highlighted Appletree’s role as a safe, inclusive and non-judgemental environment that fostered belonging, purpose and stability through nature-based, creative and relational activities. An indicative economic estimation suggested modest potential savings to public services associated with reduced service use. The findings suggest that community-led green and creative wellbeing interventions may provide a low-cost preventative model aligned with priorities in mental health prevention, social prescribing and place-based care. Recommendations are provided to support sustainability, partnership development and future evaluation