It’s official. British people are mad about their gardens. Research from Norwich Union Equity Release shows fewer than one in 10 people (9%) could live without their garden. And if they were forced to sacrifice a room or living space, most people would prefer to go without a spare bedroom, dining room or study rather than lose their garden.
It’s official. British people are mad about their gardens. Research from Norwich Union Equity Release shows fewer than one in 10 people (9%) could live without their garden. And if they were forced to sacrifice a room or living space, most people would prefer to go without a spare bedroom, dining room or study rather than lose their garden.
The research shows that nearly 8 million people spend on average at least an hour a day in their gardens with more than four out of ten (41%) people aged over 55 spending at least an hour or more.
Shows like Ground Force have made garden makeovers more popular and the Norwich Union research found that more than half (55%) of people from their twenties to retirement prefer a traditional garden with lawn and flowerbeds to decking or patios.
And when it came to deciding which makeover programme they would like to take part in, almost half (47%) of people aged over 55 said they would want a Ground Force makeover. Fewer than a fifth (19%) said they would choose a Changing Rooms makeover and fewer than 4% would want a What Not to Wear style makeover from Trinny and Susannah.
Conservatories came top of the poll of popular garden accessories for over-55s with more than half of the vote, but a hot tub would be the best addition for more than a fifth of people surveyed. The most popular accessories were: conservatory (53%), water features (43%), shed (36%), outdoor heater (25%) and hot tub (22%).
The Norwich Union equity release survey also discovered that people also like to use their gardens to watch wildlife (55%), entertain friends (47%), hold family parties (32%) and grow fruit and veg (27%).
Nigel Spencer, head of marketing at Norwich Union equity release, said: "Gardens are clearly still at the heart of British homes, not least among the older generation, 51% of whom say they are proud of their gardens and want them to look nice. Maintaining a beautiful garden can be a labour of love that takes up an enormous amount of time, effort and money.
"One of the reasons many retired people who live in large houses are reluctant to move to a smaller property is because they don’t want to leave behind gardens that may have taken years to become established and mature."
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Press office contacts:
David Gwyer 01904 452828 Out of hours 07800 699508
James Evans 01904 452791 Out of hours 07800 699525
* Source: Consumer survey conducted for Norwich Union by Tickbox on 14-15 May 2005. 1,393 adults surveyed.
Notes to editors
About the Norwich Union Home Reversion Plan
A home reversion plan enables a homeowner to sell part, or all, of their home in return for a cash lump sum payment. Customers retain the right to continue living in their home for the rest of their life but when the home is sold, the provider receives the same proportion of the sale proceeds as originally sold to them by the homeowner. The Norwich Union Home Reversion Plan includes a house price inflation guarantee and inheritance protection guarantee.
Lifetime mortgages give homeowners the chance to raise a cash lump sum or regular income by taking out a loan secured on their home. The interest due is rolled up over the life of the loan and is repaid, along with the original loan, when the plan ends. This normally when the homeowner goes into long-term care or dies.
Full written terms and conditions are available on request. Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer. It is the UK's largest provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the leading IFA providers. IFAs provide around 75% of the company's long-term savings business in the UK.
- Norwich Union has strategic alliances with building societies and other leading UK brand names including Tesco Personal Finance and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Norwich Union's news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media
- Norwich Union Equity Release Limited No 3286484. Registered at 2 Rougier Street, York, YO90 1UU. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for lifetime mortgages. Home reversion plans are not regulated by the Financial Services Authority.