The Social Value of a Garden: why need new ways of measuring the benefits of public spaces

What is the value of experiencing nature?  How do we put a figure and price on the mental health another benefits for example of visiting parks and gardens?  In 2026 Ards and North Down Council commissioned a team from QUB to do a ‘Social Value’ study of the Walled Garden in Bangor Castle.  Using a combination of focus groups, an online survey of users and economic calculations of benefits such as health, volunteering and education, it was calculated that for every £1 the council spends on the upkeep and maintenance of the Garden it generated £7 in social value.   This social value estimate is we believe a first in Northern Ireland and indicates both how we conventionally underestimate the full value of parks, lakes, gardens and how public bodies such as councils and government departments (and universities!) should integrate social value and social return on investment methodologies in their financial and investment decision-making.