- We grow around 7 million Christmas trees in the UK each year. 2240 ha of land would be needed to grow that many trees, the equivalent of 120,000 average-sized UK gardens.
- Nordmann Fir remains the most popular Christmas tree in the UK, accounting for 80% of trees sold.
- Gardens and green space are paramount for home movers and renters alike. 87% of home movers and 72% of renters say a garden is an important feature in a property when moving home.
- A garden continues to be in many buyers’ wish list, ranked in the top 5 of Rightmove’s key search terms. Source: Dataloft; bctga.co.uk; Property Academy Home Moving Trends Survey, 2022; Property Academy Renter Survey 2022; ONS. Median UK garden size is 188m2
Gardens and green space are becoming increasingly important features for home movers and renters alike. According to recent surveys by the Property Academy, 87% of home movers and 72% of renters state that a garden is an important factor when looking for a new property. This trend has been further supported by Rightmove’s latest data, which ranks gardens as one of the top five key search terms used by prospective homeowners. In this blog post, we will look into why gardens have become such a sought-after feature and how it continues to influence the housing market today.
Why Are Gardens Becoming So Popular?
Gardens are becoming increasingly popular for many reasons; from the need to get outside during lockdown restrictions to wanting more outdoor activities to do with family and friends. As people spend more time at home, they are looking for ways to bring nature into their living spaces, from creating wildlife-friendly habitats to growing vegetables in raised beds or containers. A garden provides many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors safely, including taking part in recreational activities, enjoying meals al fresco, and spending quality time with loved ones away from technology.
The Benefits of Investing in a Garden
Having a garden can add value to your property through increased marketability and higher sale prices. It can also be used as an additional leisure space or area for entertaining guests. Research has also shown that spending time outdoors can help reduce stress levels and improve overall mental health. Furthermore, it is an excellent way of connecting with nature and encourages people to take part in environmental initiatives such as reducing plastic waste or planting trees.
How Does This Trend Affect Homeowners?
This trend towards outdoor living has had a positive impact on homeowners across the UK as more buyers are willing to pay extra for properties with garden space compared to those without. The median size of gardens across the UK is 188m2, so even smaller spaces provide ample opportunity for potential buyers looking to make use of their outdoor area. For example, if you own a small flat or terraced house without access to green space, you could consider adding decking or paving stones and some plants or shrubs that attract birds or butterflies – these types of features can be relatively low cost but will still increase your property’s market value significantly when it comes time to sell up.
Since moving out of lockdown restrictions and into 2023, there is no sign that this trend towards outdoor living is going away anytime soon – if anything it looks set only increase! Homeowners looking for ways to add value to their properties should definitely consider investing in some form of garden space – even something as simple as adding some decking or paving stones can go a long way when it comes time to selling up! With its proven benefits on mental health, connection with nature and increased marketability – investing in green space may well be one of the best decisions you make.
