Why an (Arid Lands) Garden?

Gardeners

Australia• 27 Million residents• 14 million households• 11.2 million gardeners

Garden Visiting in Australia Today15-17 years 5.7%18-24 years 15.1%25-34 years 21.5%35-44 years 20.8%

45-54 years 15.9%55-64 years 10.0%65+ years 11.0%Total 100%

Age of botanic gardens visitors, 15 years and over

15-17 years 39.1%

18-24 years 42.7%

25-34 years 41.5%

35-44 years 41.4%

45-54 years 39.0%

55-64 years 36.0%

65+ years 27.8%

Total 38.5%

Those who visit at least one botanic garden each year, according to their age

Source: The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG) 1994

Degree or higher 62.7%Trade/Apprentice 63.3%Certificate/Diploma 51.0%Other qualification 44.1%

No qualification 33.3%Still at school 37.7%Total 38.5%

Table 8.8. Those over 15 who visit at least one botanic garden each year, according to their highest educational qualification:Source: The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG)

The Australian Capital Territory resident (49.3%) and the Western Australia resident are the most likely to visit botanic gardens (47.9%). Even though they exhibit the lowest visitation percentages, Tasmania with 37% and NSW with 34% suggests the Australian resident in general has a high propensity to visit gardens.

World distribution of plant species and botanic gardens (WWF, HJCN - B(CS, 1987)

Social and Cultural

Environmental

Taxa = Group

Accessions= groups or distinct families (Palms)

Economic

• Generally little Economic data owing to Free entry and little mileage in Economic Base studies.

AvitarCommercial Gaming

Amusement Parks

CFL Gardening6 Canadian NHL Teams

NFL Spa (US and Canada)

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Gardening revenues vs. Other leisure activities.

Revenues in Billions $

# 16 Some New Findings (last month!) from Visit Britain

• International Tourists (six million)– Demand/desire for Garden visiting by overseas

visitors is # 3 in popularity only exceeded by “Going to the Pub” and “Shopping”

– 31 % of all overseas visitors will see a garden– Desire to see garden exceeds desire to see

museums, art galleries and even historic sites– Median age = 39 !!!!

Economic Impact• On March 23, 2014, Port Adelaide played The Adelaide Crows

at the Adelaide Oval 50, 583 people attended. Six months earlier 18, 328 people visited Floriade in Canberra (Port Adelaide won 127-73). No one came the next day to the oval – 21,000 came to the Flower show and again for the next 27 days

• Probably 110,000 room nights for those 29 days• Av spending at Floriade = $ 33.00 = $ 7.2 million• In Canberra. 442,243 attended and with 25% of visitors from

interstate or overseas • Economic Impact was $ 27 million.• Morton Arboretum has a staff of 135 full time and 90 part

time and 1000 seasonal• A Regional theme park in the US has 41 F/T and 1300 PT/Seasonal

Community

Brooklyn Botanic Garden and New York Botanical Gardens

1999 The Community Greening model

Mary Shallis’s East New York Garden

The block next door

Royal York Hotel Toronto

Parking Strips Seattle