Organic Gardening In Britain
Latest research by MORI, on behalf of Garden Organic (previously HDRA), shows that there is huge potential to encourage the use of organic methods among British garden owners. Almost half (48%) of British garden owners still use weed killers in their gardens. In addition, two-fifths do not feed their soil with garden compost which is vital for maintaining its fertility, and another third (32%) do not actively encourage wildlife into their gardens.
Currently just over one in ten (12%) of British garden owners claim to use only organic methods. Two-fifths (40%) say they use some organic methods, but a third (30%) do not garden organically and 13% do not know what organic gardening involves.
On a positive note, nearly two-thirds (61%) of garden owners say they would like to use more organic methods, but need more information or advice to do so.
Topline Results
- MORI interviewed a nationally representative quota sample of 1,003 adults aged 16+.
- Interviews were carried out over the telephone. No incentives were offered to respondents.
- All interviews were conducted between 19th-22nd August 2005.
- Where figures do not sum to 100 percent, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple codes or the exclusion of 'Don't know'.
- All 1,003 respondents answered questions (except where they were filtered past questions that, based on previous answers, were not relevant to them).
- All figures are percentages based on the total sample unless stated otherwise.
- The figure '*' indicates a response of less than 0.5% but more than 0%.
Q1 The following statements relate to gardening activities. Which of the following statements, if any, apply to you or your household? You may pick as many or as few as you wish.Base: All respondents (unweighted 1,003 and weighted 1,003)
| % | |
|---|---|
| I/we do not have a garden/allotment | 17 |
| Use artificial fertilisers | 20 |
| Actively encourage wildlife e.g. leaving food or water for wildlife, setting up nesting boxes or using plants specifically to encourage wildlife | 56 |
| Recycle garden waste | 63 |
| Use chemical sprays to kill pests | 22 |
| Feed my soil with garden compost | 49 |
| Use weed killers | 40 |
| I/we do have a garden/allotment, but don't do any of these activities | 6 |
Q2 Which of the following statements best applies to you or your household?Base: All except those who do not do any gardening (unweighted 837 and weighted 828)
| % | |
|---|---|
| I only use organic gardening methods | 12 |
| I use some organic gardening methods | 40 |
| I do not garden organically | 30 |
| I don't know what organic gardening involves | 13 |
| None of these | 4 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q3 The following statement relates to organic gardening. Please could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree with it?Base: All except those who do not do any gardening (unweighted 837 and weighted 828)
| Strongly agree | Agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | No opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| I'd like to use more organic gardening methods, but would need more information or advice to do so | 25 | 36 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 7 |
