THE BENEFITS OF POOL TO POND

THE EFFECTS UPON HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE AS A RESULT OF CONTACT WITH NATURE

HLTH300 Health Placement Hailey Ward

Session 1, 2015

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THE BENEFITS OF POOL TO POND THE EFFECTS UPON HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE AS A RESULT OF CONTACT WITH NATURE HLTH300 Health Placement Hailey Ward Session 1, 2015

CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES 4 THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY: KU-RING-GAI LGA 4 INTENDED USE AND USERS 6 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 7 EVALUATION FOCUS 8 DATA SOURCES AND METHODS 9 DESCRIPTION OF EVALUATION METHODS 9 HOW THE DATA WAS ANALYSED 11 ASSESSEMENT OF LIMITATIONS 11 RESULTS: SURVEY 1 13 RESULTS: SURVEY 2 17 DISCUSSION 19 CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS 23 REFERENCES 24 APPENDICES 25

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides an evaluation of Ku-ring-gai Council’s Pool to Pond program currently implemented in Ku-ring-gai Local Government Area (LGA). The central purpose of the evaluation is to highlight the health and wellbeing benefits of Ku-ring-gai Council’s Pool to Pond program upon its participants as there is growing evidence to affirm the benefits of contact with nature. Evidence based data on the health-enhancing effects of nature are not only of interest to stakeholders in health promotion but also to those involved with urban design, landscape and local environmental initiatives (Haluza et al. 2014).

For the purpose of this report, contact with nature can be described as encompassing three types of human/ nature interaction (Townsend & Weerasuriya 2010). These include;

- Viewing nature through a window.

- Being in the presence of nature: such as walking, cycling, relaxing or socialising in a garden or other natural environments, and;

- Active participation in nature: including gardening, farming, running or other activities which promote active engagement.

As a large portion of the Pool to Pond participants are currently, or approaching the age bracket of 65 years and older, the evaluation will also place Pool to Pond within the context of Ku-ring-gai Council’s Ageing Strategy (Cred 2013). The Ageing Strategy 2014-2019, currently in its drafting stages, has been developed in response to the growing number of older people residing in Ku-ring-gai LGA. For the purpose of this report, people 65 years and over are referred to as older people herein.

The values and goals of the Ageing Strategy recognise the opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of older people through an environment which is conducive to active ageing. As the Ageing Strategy calls upon all of the Council’s operational units, there is merit in highlighting the ways in which Pool to Pond contributes to achieving certain Strategic Outcomes.

The evaluation was underpinned by a literature review which informed the scope and direction of the overall evaluation and the methods of analysis. The development and dissemination of 2 surveys facilitated consultation with the households of Ku-ring-gai LGA who have participated in Pool to Pond. The surveys were conducted and analysed via Survey Monkey.

Results of the anecdotal survey data highlight a number of positive attributes and outcomes of the Pool to Pond program in improving health and wellbeing, and in supporting the vision and goals of the Ageing Strategy.

The positive attributes include:

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- Promoting social engagement between participants through events hosted by Ku-ring-gai Council and online forums.

- Facilitating and assisting active engagement with nature.

- Providing education on the importance of nature and a sustainable environment.

- Encouraging the inclusion and participation of older people, and;

- Supporting ageing in place by alleviating the burden involved with maintaining an unused backyard pool for older residents.

The positive outcomes include:

- Psychological benefits: increased knowledge, stress reduction, and social inclusion.

- Physiological benefits: increased engagement with nature, and physical activity in the form of gardening, and;

- Reducing the financial burden associated with traditional living.

In consultation with Pool to Pond participants the evaluation also highlights program opportunities. These opportunities are also consistent with the direction of the Ageing Strategy.

The opportunities highlighted in the evaluation include:

- Providing support for older participants such as gardening and maintenance services coordinated by volunteers.

- Innovation in the dissemination of information concerning the conversion process, and;

- Partnership with other stakeholders in enhancing the involvement of the older population with other initiatives and programs lead by the Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council (KMC) Strategy and Environment Department. For example, the involvement of local nursing homes and retirement villages with Council initiated community gardens.

The evaluation also recognises the limitations of the research conducted. Some of the limitations include a small sample size, the influence of the NSW Swimming Pools Regulation 2008, a lack of empirical data and the limitations associated with a cross-sectional study.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The majority of the population will interact with nature and related ecosystems within the fabric of urbanisation (Pryor et al. 2006). This is due to the disproportionate shift from rural to urban living over the last few centuries, resulting in the rapid insulation of society from green spaces (Maller et al. 2005). Scientific research has substantiated that encounters with the natural environment has significant positive effects on health and well-being (Townsend & Weerasuriya 2010).

As a result, health promotion initiatives are improving public health through upstream interventions centred on contact with nature (Weber & Anderson 2011, Maller et al. 2005). Weber and Anderson (2011) suggest that initiatives that increase access to the natural environment (for example, accessible walking tracks and parks) are more effective in improving health than educational programs or marketing campaigns, which aim to increase motivation for human-nature interaction.

Evidence based data on the health-enhancing effects of nature are not only of interest to stakeholders in health promotion but also to those involved with urban design, landscape and local environmental initiatives (Haluza et al. 2014). There is a general consensus amongst the literature surrounding the importance of environmental sustainability in achieving better health and wellbeing (De Vries et al. 2003, Maller et al. 2005, Hartig et al. 2014, Haluza et al. 2014, Pryor 2006). This is particularly insightful when substantiating the need for local council initiatives that promote natural environments in urban spaces.

Ecological sustainability and biodiversity are among the leading motives of the KMC Strategy and Environment Department, however the benefits to public health and wellbeing are likely and welcomed bi-products.

Much of the existing literature favours publicly owned spaces such as urban parks and reserves for their salutary value (Hartig et al. 2014) however this evaluation furthers the developments made surrounding the health and wellbeing benefits of contact with nature in an urban backyard setting.

THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY: KU-RING-GAI LGA THE ENVIRONMENT

Ku-ring-gai LGA is situated 16 kilometres from the city centre in Sydney’s northern suburbs. Spanning 85 square kilometres, it comprises of 9 suburbs which are home to an estimated 120,978 residents. The population density is 14.16 persons per hectare where 95% of residential area is low density housing (i.d. consulting 2007).

Ku-ring-gai LGA is unique in that it is characterised by leafy suburbs and extensive bushland with 3 national parks covering 20% of the total area. These parks include Garigal National Park in the east, Lane Cove National Park in the west and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the north. Ku-ring-gai

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LGA boasts a variety of natural habitats fostering a large number of flora and fauna species, some of which are endangered.

In light of this, Ku-ring-gai Council has engaged in a long standing commitment to achieving environmental sustainability. This is the premise behind Pool to Pond which is one initiative of Ku-ring-gai Council’s WildThings program aimed to promote sustainability and biodiversity within the Ku-ring-gai LGA.

THE RESIDENTS

According to the community profile of Ku-ring-gai LGA (i.d. consulting 2007), the dominant age groups are people under 15, and people who are 65 years and older. Ku-ring-gai LGA is characterised by the second highest proportion of older people aged 65+ in both the Northern Sydney Region and the second highest in NSW. The population of people 65 years and older living in Ku-ring-gai LGA has increased from 16.7% in 2006 to 17.4% in 2011. This is significantly higher than 12.7% in Greater Sydney (i.d. consulting 2007). The largest changes in age structure between the years 2006-2011 for Ku-ring-gai LGA were as follows:

- 65 to 69 (+956)

- 50 to 54 (+889)

- 60 to 64 (+747)

- 45 to 49 (+709)

The number of people 65 years and older is projected to rise to 20% by 2031 in the Northern Sydney Region of Councils (NSROC) region.

A large proportion of Ku-ring-gai’s older people (69%) live in large family homes with a garden, with only 10% living in units (Cred 2013). The preference for traditional living arrangements in Ku-ring-gai LGA provides a platform for KMC Strategy and Environment Department to engage with older people and connect them to local programs such as Pool to Pond which enhance active engagement with the environment, and alleviate isolation.

As a large proportion of participants are older, or will be considered older in the next 20 years, this evaluation will draw upon the Ageing Strategy which is being developed in response to the needs of the growing ageing population. Its interdepartmental approach calls on the KMC Strategy and Environment Department to support the expanding needs of the older people in Ku-ring-gai LGA in the delivery of services, programs and facilities. The Ageing Strategy recognises the opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of older people through an environment which is conducive to active ageing.

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INTENDED USE AND USERS As this is a form of organisational research, the deliverable research components are intended to inform Peter Clarke and the WildThings team at Ku-ring-gai Council of the impacts that Pool to Pond is having on the health and lifestyle of Ku-ring-gai LGA residents.

This has been achieved by providing a forum for participants to comment on their interaction with their pond and their perception of the health and lifestyle benefits of the Pool to Pond conversion. The purpose of the surveys was to provide participants in Ku-ring-gai LGA an opportunity to articulate benefits and/or weaknesses to the program which are otherwise unreported.

This will benefit conversation with current and potential stakeholders by informing and substantiating ongoing efforts to implement WildThings projects in other households. This includes stakeholders concerned with the delivery and coordination of programs specific to the older people of Ku-ring-gai LGA.

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Environment and sustainability is a key priority area for Ku-ring-gai Council. Ku-ring-gai Council undertakes a number of projects within the various Environmental and Sustainability programs to preserve the local environment and ecosystems.

Pool to Pond is a current project initiated in 2007 purposed to promote biodiversity within urban backyards in Ku-ring-gai LGA. This is achieved by providing participants with native fish, aquatic plants, and education surrounding sustainable patterns of living. Implemented as one of the two major projects within the WildThings program, Pool to Pond encourages local people to create sustainable biological systems by converting unused backyard pools into natural ponds.

As well as the benefits to local biodiversity, the conversion is cost effective, saving the participant household over $1,000 on electricity bills per annum. Maintenance on a backyard pond is also low, reducing the need for toxic chemicals. Both the short term and long term outcomes are centred on creating hotspots for local biodiversity.

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EVALUATION FOCUS There is a wealth of research surrounding contact with nature which affirms that human-nature interaction generates positive health outcomes (Weber & Anderson 2011, Maller et al. 2005, Hartig et al. 2014). Prior to this evaluation, contact with nature had not been explored within the context of Pool to Pond but is beneficial in further substantiating the positive effects of this WildThings project upon the local community within Ku-ring-gai LGA and in contributing to achieving the Strategic Outcomes of the Ageing Strategy.

As well as highlighting the health promoting affects of the program as the focus of Survey 1, the evaluation has also been developed around the principles of a SWOT analysis which Survey 2 further explores. This ensures that any weaknesses, threats and opportunities for growth are also highlighted alongside the program’s strengths.

FOCUS QUESTIONS OF SURVEY 1

- What are the perceived benefits of participating in the Pool to Pond program?

- What are the lifestyle changes prompted by the conversion?

- How has the conversion promoted active ageing and community engagement?

- What aspects of life have been improved (or negatively affected if any) as a result of the conversion?

FOCUS QUESTIONS OF SURVEY 2

- Are there adequate and effective systems in place to support Pool to Pond participants throughout the complete process of the conversion?

- How can the delivery and coordination of the program be improved?

- How can Pool to Pond further facilitate community engagement for participants?

- What are the implications of ageing upon the Pool to Pond experience?

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DATA SOURCES AND METHODS DESCRIPTION OF EVALUATION METHODS This short qualitative study was undertaken between March and June 2015, and included a literature review, two written surveys, data analysis and report writing.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The literature review was undertaken to inform the research questions and the direction of this evaluation. The focus of the literature review was contact with nature in urban environments, consistent with the objectives to investigate the health and lifestyle benefits felt by the participants of Pool to Pond. The review presented a brief summary of evidence drawn from existing, relevant literature concerning the role that human-nature interaction has had on enhancing individual health and wellbeing. This background research gave light to the health and wellbeing benefits associated with contact with nature in urban environments by adopting a social ecological approach to health (Weber & Anderson 2011, Maller et al. 2005, Hartig et al. 2014).

SURVEY 1

(See Appendix A for Survey 1)

Participants of Survey 1 and 2 were recruited through the WildThings database. According to the Ageing Strategy (Cred 2013) 65% of older people in Ku-ring-gai LGA have access to the internet which is much higher than Greater Sydney (34%) For this reason both surveys were conducted via Survey Monkey, an online survey tool.

Each of the 77 Pool to Pond participant households were sent Survey 1, the majority were sent via email with few hardcopies of the survey sent in the mail depending on the available contact details. Hardcopy responses were manually entered into Survey Monkey to assist with data analysis. A follow up email was sent as a reminder for those who had not completed the survey after two weeks. The surveys were completed anonymously though participant’s were able to provide personal details to facilitate further contact and discussion where consent was given by the participant.

Of the 77 Pool to Pond participants on the Wildthings database, 27 were willing to take part in Survey 1. Of the 27, 14 were male, with 13 being female. The percentage age distribution of the participants were as follows; 11% of participants were over 80, 30% between 70-79 years of age, 26% between 60-69, 22% between 50-59, with less than 11% falling in the age categories below 50.

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SURVEY 2

(See Appendix B for Survey 2)

The initial scope of the evaluation had included Survey 1, however themes which arose from the responses of Survey 1 provided a platform for Survey 2 to extend the evaluation from the health related benefits to encompass broader program strengths, weaknesses (gaps as referred to herein), threats and opportunities (SWOT analysis). The link to Survey 2 was sent via email to the 24 participants who had indicated consent for follow up in Survey 1 by providing their name and email address. Due to time restrictions, the participants were given a deadline 5 days after the survey was sent.

Of the 24 participants, 13 responded to Survey 2. Of the 12, 7 were male and 6 were female. There were no responses by participants over 80, 23% between 70-79, 38% between 60-69, 31% between 50-59 and only 8% below 50.

Age Distribution of Participants Survey 1

Age (years)

Percentage of total

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HOW THE DATA WAS ANALYSED The data was analysed using online survey tool, Survey Monkey. Survey Monkey enabled efficient and effective survey design, the collection of responses, and analysis, providing question summaries, data trends and individual responses.

ASSESSEMENT OF LIMITATIONS Haluza et al. (2014), and Calogiuri and Chroni (2014) have suggested that studies surrounding the physiological benefits of human-nature interaction highlight inconsistencies in explaining cause-and-effect relationships. This is because longitudinal studies extending over long periods of time are rare in this field (Haluza et al. 2014, Hartig et al. 2014). The literature review has highlighted a need to pursue longitudinal studies that follow the same subjects over a substantial period of time to encapsulate past and future levels of health (such as cholesterol and blood pressure levels). The benefit of longitudinal studies include more accurate conclusions around causal relationships which are not easily substantiated from cross-sectional studies.

Despite this, a cross sectional study was conducted due to restrictions of time and resource. There was no comparative data on the health and wellbeing of the participants prior to the introduction of

Age Distribution of Participants Survey 2

Age (years)

Percentage of total

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Pool to Pond confining the study to a single moment in time. A longitudinal study would have been more accurate in suggesting cause and effect relationships. Further, any health and wellbeing improvements felt by the participants within this project were anecdotal rather than empirical due to the nature of the surveys. The findings from this research therefore cannot determine whether any improvements confessed by the participants are a direct result of Pool to Pond as all relevant variables have not been accounted for.

“I could imagine all sorts of health benefits but none that I can positively attribute to the pond alone” (participant)

Therefore the evidence derived from this study can only highlight general themes and patterns rather than conclusions surrounding cause and effect. Despite this critique, the strength of current evidence surrounding the health benefits of contact with nature is enough to substantiate the inclusion of environment programs in discussing agents of health and wellbeing (Maller et al. 2005).

The small sample size also poses as a limitation to this study. It is suggested that recent changes made by the NSW Government to the NSW Swimming Pools Regulation 2008 has deterred a portion of the Pool to Pond participants from taking part in the study. The changes stipulated that all swimming pools, including swimming pools converted to ponds, must be compliant with the regulations. These regulations, effective April 2015 include child resistant barriers, and warning signs/ resuscitation signs within clear view of the pool or pond. Ku-ring-gai Council had made this known to the participants of their Pool to Pond program via email stating also that non-compliant pools could no longer be included in the program. At this stage, non-compliant participants have not been identified or removed from the database which this evaluation was based on.

With this knowledge, a statement was attached to the survey affirming that the research welcomed participation from owners of both compliant and non-compliant ponds. However feedback via email suggested that some Pool to Pond participants were not comfortable with taking part if their pond was non-compliant or believed to be non-compliant as some did not want “risk fines” as one participant confessed despite the anonymity of the study.

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RESULTS: SURVEY 1 PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS/ BY-PRODUCTS

The Likert scale in Q14 allows the respondents to rate 4 lifestyle improvements since the Pool to Pond conversion from Strongly Agree (1) to Strongly Disagree (5). ‘An increased understanding and appreciation of nature’ was the most frequently recognised benefit with a mean of 1.96 (see table below). Weber and Anderson (2011) affirm that contact with nature improves one’s understanding of the environment, however further discussion of this benefit throughout the literature was lacking.

Analysis of Q14 Survey 1

In light of this, Q11 allowed the participants to elaborate on the knowledge acquired as a result of the conversion. 77% of total survey participants reported increases in their knowledge of the environment as a result of the conversion. Of those, 90% reported improved knowledge of native wildlife and aquatic plant species.

“I have learnt much more of aquatic plant species and endemic aquatic fauna. I knew little of it before” (participant)

For many Pool to Pond participants, the pond has made them “more observant” and has brought participants “great pleasure watching the fish increase and seeing the plants flourish” (participant)

Trailing behind ‘an increased understanding and appreciation of nature’ in Q14 was ‘a reduction to stress levels’ which generated a mean score of 2.62. When asked about the positive improvements to health and wellbeing in Q15, of the 18 respondents who agreed that the pond elicited positive effects upon health and lifestyle, 8 used terminology such as “relaxing”, “calming”, and “soothing”, attributing the pond to decreased stress levels and eliciting feelings of “relief”.

Responses Q14 Median Mean Standard Deviation

An increase in levels of physical activity.

3.00 3.40 0.94

A reduction to stress levels.

2.00 2.62 1.11

An increased understanding and

appreciation of nature.

2.00 1.96 1.04

Social inclusion as a result of interacting with others involved in the

program.

4.00 3.46 1.01

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“My husband has alziemers/ dementia and other significant health problems… it is a relief to watch the activities in the pool” (participant)

The psychological benefits of contact with nature are congruent across the body of literature used for this evaluation. The characteristics of people’s living environment and the presence of ‘green’ and ‘blue’ spaces are continually raised as positive influences upon psychological health. Hartig et al. (2014) imply that the characteristics of residence (the location and the physical characteristics of one’s household and neighborhood) either enhance exposure to stressors or alleviate stress when characterised by restorative amenities (Hartig et al. 2014, Haluza et al. 2014, Calogiuri & Chroni 2014). These restorative amenities may include landscaping, gardens, pleasing views, and areas of water in and around residential property.

These promote restoration (Hartig et al. 2014), and elicit qualities such as self-discipline (Weber & Anderson 2011), concentration (De Vries et al. 2003), improvements to mood and fatigue (Pryor 2006) and a reduction in cortisol production, a stress hormone (Calogiuri & Chroni 2014). A reduction to stress levels was a recurring theme throughout the responses as many participants described it as a by-product of the conversion.

“My stress levels decrease as I watch the magnificent creatures (of the pond)” (participant)

“I am more relaxed in the presence of the pond” (participant)

PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS/ BY-PRODUCTS

The literature has also attributed the ‘greenness’ of people’s living environment to certain physiological benefits. It is accepted that ‘green spaces’ encourage active engagement with outdoor areas resulting in increases in levels of physical activity (Calogiuri & Chroni 2014, De Vries et al. 2003, Hartig et al. 2014). Hartig et al. (2014) affirm that people who are engaging in the environment for it’s restorative qualities must participate in some form of physical activity to do so.

Q12 highlights that for 81% of participants, Pool to Pond promoted engagement with nature in the backyard setting. As suggested by Q7, prior to Pool to Pond, 44% of participants spent time in their backyard daily or multiple times per day for reasons other than pool maintenance. Q8 reveals that after the conversion, this rose to 63%, an increase of almost 20%. The most common backyard activities as highlighted by Q9 were gardening (70%), attending to the native inhabitants of the pond (67%) and reclining/ relaxing (44%).

The 20% increase in backyard engagement however did not necessarily translate to reports of increased levels of physical activity, with only 1 participant confessing to exercising as a result of the pond in Q9. When asked what aspects of life have improved since the conversion in Q14, the mean response for ‘increases in levels of physical activity’ was 3.40 highlighting the pull towards Strongly Disagree (5).

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This was not surprising considering low maintenance was a widely reported benefit which appealed to the Pool to Pond participants in the first place. For many, the pond was a way of ensuring “less work” as many of the participants reiterated. Q5 asked the participants to rate what was most appealing about the conversion on the Likert scale from Strongly Agree (1) to Strongly Disagree (5). ‘Low maintenance compared to a backyard pool’ generated a mean of 1.23 with 81% of participants rating the appeal a 1.

Despite increases in physical activity not being reported by the participants as a by-product of the conversion, gardening constitutes a form of active contact with nature which was established at the beginning of this report. The survey did not investigate whether or not gardening was more frequent as a result of the conversion but nevertheless it highlighted that since the conversion gardening consumed 70% of outdoor activities. This suggests that many of the participants are physically active in their engagement with nature.

“I'm a lot more active trying to maintain the garden and pond” (participant)

The physiological health benefits of gardening are widely reported and discussed in the literature (Townsend & Weerasuriya 2010). These benefits include decreased blood pressure and cholesterol, improved health for diabetes patients, whilst lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart disease and cancer (Pryor et al. 2006, Calogiuri & Chroni 2014).

The link between these health benefits and the natural environment are often inconclusive which was echoed within the findings of this evaluation (Calogiuri & Chroni 2014). The correlation between physical benefits such as these and contact with nature could be strengthened with the use of empirical data. For example, it is unknown as to whether the health benefits mentioned above were experienced by the Pool to Pond participants as the scope of this study was unable to measure medical indicators such as blood pressure.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

As mentioned, Q5 asked the participants to rate what was most appealing about the conversion on the Likert scale from Strongly Agree (1) to Strongly Disagree (5). 62% of participants strongly agreed that, ‘saving money on electricity bills’ was most appealing.

“Comparing electricity consumption for corresponding periods with pool and then with pond shows a reduction of consumption of about 25%… There is also the saving of the ongoing expense of pool chemicals” (participant)

GAPS IN THE CONVERSION PROCESS

In response to Q17, 30% of respondents reported aspects of their lives which have been negatively affected by the conversion. The three themes that arose from these responses as agents of distress were;

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1. Noise complaints from neighbours.

2. Local wildlife eating the native fish from the pond.

3. Difficulties with maintenance such as overgrown weeds in and around the pond.

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RESULTS: SURVEY 2 The gaps in the conversion process reported in Q17 in Survey 1 informed the development of Survey 2. As mentioned, the purpose of the subsequent survey was to investigate any gaps of the program in order to highlight program opportunities. Overall, the responses from Survey 2 were largely positive with few isolated comments on program weaknesses.

Echoing some of the themes from Q17 in Survey 1, Survey 2 reiterated the issue of noise complaints. One participant communicated their distress and stated that the resistance by one of their neighbours;

“Our neighbour at [address removed] have seen fit to complain to Council on the issue of noise pollution created by the frogs and undertaken a vendetta against anything we now wish to undertake in the improvement of our property. This has seriously impacted our lives, so much so that we may now need to move from the area” (participant)

Q4 and Q5 highlight how Ku-ring-gai Council can improve their methods of support towards participants; before, during and after the conversion process. Whilst the majority were satisfied with the level of support given to them, there was a general desire for more follow up visits where Ku-ring-gai Council can provide individualised information and suggestions for improvement which are specific to the pond at hand. Free individual compliance assessments carried out by the Council were also mentioned in light of the changes to the NSW Swimming Pool Regulation as participants did not want to “risk fines” but are mindful of current inspection fees.

Practical assistance with the positioning of plants and submerged platforms were also raised as a challenge to the program which is proving difficult for some older participants to manage on their own. A couple of the participants also identified gardening assistance as an ongoing need in both Survey 1 and Survey 2.

“I do feel a little overwhelmed with struggling with a reasonably large and neglected garden, and trying to find ways to make my pond work, especially as at 74 and in reasonably poor health the prospect is daunting” (participant)

Networking was a well reported benefit of being in partnership with Ku-ring-gai Council. Social inclusion was not well recognised as a benefit of the program according the results of Q14 Survey 1, however Survey 2 would suggest that engagement with other participants is largely desirable as a way of sharing experiences, advice and plants. 100% of the participants said that they would attend more frequent events hosted by Ku-ring-gai Council irrespective of how many years it had been since the conversion.

It is important to note that there were no participants who responded to Survey 2 who had begun the conversion more than six years ago which may suggest a disconnect from this kind of

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involvement for longstanding participants. It can certainly be concluded however that more recent participants to the program would welcome events which facilitate interaction of this kind.

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DISCUSSION IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Pool to Pond should not be overlooked for its contribution towards achieving Strategic Outcome 4 within the Ageing Strategy. To many older participants, Pool to Pond has contributed to physical and spiritual wellbeing as formerly highlighted in this evaluation.

“On a spiritual level it is very soothing and spending time tending the pond and surrounding garden is good physically” (participant)

REDUCING THE ECONOMIC BURDEN

This is an important factor for older people in the Ku-ring-gai LGA. Despite nearly half of households 65+ having a weekly household income in excess of $1,000, one third of the older people in Ku-ring-gai experience financial hardship and are relying on the age pension. Some older people in the area are ‘asset rich but income poor’ (Cred 2013, p. 7). The financial benefit of Pool to Pond therefore is another positive attribute of the conversion upon the wellbeing of its participants.

SUPPORTING AGEING IN PLACE

“Because I found maintenance of the pool rather difficult and also expensive it has enabled me to continue to live in my own home and added a new dimension to my day, important when living alone” (participant)

“I no longer have to spend 2+ hours a week cleaning the pool” (participant)

“I spend much more time relaxing…” (participant)

The low maintenance quality of a pond has alleviated some physical stress associated with owning a large home and has assisted some older residents to continue to age in place.

The effects of ageing do not seem to be hindering the Pool to Pond experience for the majority. However, with the realities of the ageing population, Ku-ring-gai Council must be mindful of the implications of future frailty upon the participant’s ability to manage, maintain and improve the pond independently with time. In consultation with older residents of Ku-ring-gai LGA and other key stakeholders, the Ageing Strategy echoes the general need for gardening support for older people to age in place and live independently. See Strategic Outcome 1 of the Ageing Strategy (Cred 2013).

Maintenance and gardening support could be incorporated into future planning for Pool to Pond to ensure the program’s success throughout all stages of implementation. This will also contribute to the overarching strategic outcomes of the Ageing Strategy in supporting older people to continue to age in place. To ensure that the positive effects of Pool to Pond are longstanding, Ku-ring-gai Council should commit to removing barriers to the program’s success by planning for the needs of

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older participants who constitute a large percentage of the Pool to Pond program. This could be achieved by:

- Linking school volunteering programs and local youth services with the older participants who are in need of assistance with maintaining their Pond, and/or;

- Promoting gardening clubs consisting of older Ku-ring-gai LGA residents who are seeking social engagement and community participation.

The Ageing Strategy found that:

- Intergenerational engagement is a desire of many older residents, and;

- Gardening clubs and meaningful volunteering were among the activities, services and programs most highly valued by residents.

PROMOTING SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION

Consultation with participants has highlighted possible gaps in the provision of information. The following topics were raised by participants as points to be addressed more clearly by Ku-ring-gai Council:

Common/recurring topics to be addressed Current method to address these

Advice on best types of plants and fish. Extensively outlined in the Pool to Pond Plants and Fish Brochure available via the Ku-ring-gai Council website since 2014, and advice and sales at the

Council nursery.

Advice on how to eradicate pond slime. Briefly addressed in the Pool to Pond Flyer available via the Ku-ring-gai Council website.

Advice on how to improve water quality. Briefly addressed in the Pool to Pond Flyer available via the Ku-ring-gai Council website.

Advice on how to dispose of unused pool chemicals.

Chemical CleanOut events advertised on the Ku-ring-gai Council website.

Advice on whether a pump is needed or not. Addressed at the ‘Pool to Pond Conversation’, a workshop held for the public at Council Chambers.

Advice on how to practically build platforms and islands for the pond.

Addressed at the ‘Pool to Pond Conversation’, a workshop held for the public at Council Chambers.

Advice on how to stop birds and other wildlife from interfering with growth of the pond/ eating fish.

Addressed at the ‘Pool to Pond Conversation’, a workshop held for the public at Council Chambers.

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For these topics mentioned, personalised support via phone and email is available for prospective and current Pool to Pond participants. Contact details have been made available on the flyers and on the Ku-ring-gai Council website. A Pool to Pond Facebook page has recently been created by WildThings to facilitate social engagement between participants as a forum where questions can be answered and tips can be shared between participants and the WildThings team. Not all participants are aware of this forum or involved with social media, however it is anticipated that this has potential to link younger and older people together and foster intergenerational engagement.

Despite Ku-ring-gai Council having online resources available to assist with the conversion it is not utilised efficiently by all participants. This has highlighted a need for more innovative ways of distributing information. This was also addressed in the Ageing Strategy (Strategic Outcome 2) which seeks to ensure that older people are socially connected, engaged and informed and that they have the technical skills to engage online. One of the strategies suggested based on the program opportunities is a collaboration between the KMC Strategy and Environment Department, and the KMC Community Department in building upon existing programs which assist with getting people connected online.

On the basis of the findings, participants desire more regular face to face engagement with Council and with other participants through regular events hosted by Ku-ring-gai Council. This has the potential to create support networks with “like-minded people” as one participant described.

FUTURE EVALUATIONS

This evaluation should be used as a platform to extend the discussion of contact with nature to other programs and initiatives lead by the KMC Strategy and Environment Department such as the Turramarra Lookout Community Garden.

Community gardens are an opportunity for Council to:

- Promote environmental sustainability in the Ku-ring-gai LGA.

- Educate on environmental issues.

- Promote relevant skills applicable to everyday life.

- Promote social engagement and community participation, and;

- Promote opportunities for physical activity.

This is an opportunity for the KMC Strategy and Environment Department to partner with local nursing homes such as North Haven, Turramarra and engage with older people living in retirement villages and nursing homes. As this current evaluation has affirmed the health and wellbeing benefits of engaging in nature related programs, Ku-ring-gai Council could investigate the levels of

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engagement between nursing home residents, retirement villages and neighbouring community gardens, and barriers which may be hindering engagement.

Potential barriers include:

- A lack of accessible walking paths.

- Insufficient seating appropriate for older people, and;

- A lack of staffing at the nursing home to facilitate the frail older people to engage with the garden.

This is one example in which the KMC Strategy and Environment Department can further contribute to achieving the goals of the Ageing Strategy.

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CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS An important part of this evaluation was to engage with residents of Ku-ring-gai LGA who participate in Pool to Pond. The anecdotal evidence derived from this finds Pool to Pond to be a successful program having elicited many positive health and wellbeing benefits as formerly outlined.

Pool to Pond is not directly discussed in the Ageing Strategy, however this evaluation has highlighted some ways in which it is supporting certain Strategic Outcomes of the report. Pool to Pond is achieving this by:

- Promoting social engagement between participants.

- Facilitating and assisting active engagement with nature.

- Educating on the importance of nature and a sustainable environment.

- Encouraging the inclusion and participation of older people with the wider community, and;

- Supporting ageing in place.

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REFERENCES

Calogiuri, G & Chroni, S 2014, ‘The impact of the natural environment on the promotion of active living: an integrative and systematic review’, BMC Public Health 2014, 14:873.

Cred Community Planning, 2013, Ku-ring-gai Ageing Strategy 2014-2019 (draft), Paddington, NSW.

De Vries, S, Verheij, R, & Groenewegen, P 2003, ‘Natural environments-healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between green spaces and health’, Environment and Planning A 2003, vol. 35, pp. 1717-1731.

Haluza, D, Schonbauer, R, Cervinka, R 2014, ‘Green perspectives for public health: a narrative review on the physiological effects of experiencing outdoor nature’, Int. J. Res. Public Health 2014, vol. 11, pp. 5445-5461.

Hartig, T, Mitchell, R, De Vries, S, & Frumkin, H 2014, ‘Nature and health’, Annual Review Public Health 2014, vol. 35, pp. 207-228.

i.d. consulting 2007, Ku-ring-gai Council Community Profile, viewed 1June 2015, http://profile.id.com.au/ku-ring-gai

Maller, C, Townsend, M, Pryor, A, Brown, P, & Leger, L 2005, ‘Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations’, Health Promotion International, vol. 21:1, pp. 45-54.

Pryor, A, Townsend, M, Maller, C, & Field, K 2006, ‘Health and well-being naturally: ‘contact with nature’ in health promotion for targeted individuals, communities and populations’, Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2006, vol. 17:2, pp. 114-123.

Townsend, M, & Weerasuriya, R 2010, ‘Beyond Blue to Green: The benefits of contact with nature for health and wellbeing’, Beyond Blue Limited, Melbourne, Australia.

Weber, D, & Anderson, D 2011, ‘Contact with nature: recreation experience preferences in Australian parks’, Annals of Leisure Research, vol. 13:1-2, pp. 46-49.