FAQs

If your question is not answered here then please contact us. Browse the questions below and click on one to find out more...

What is GreenSTAT?
What’s the difference between the questionnaires?
How can I see these questionnaires?
How is the data stored?
Who has access to the data?
What makes GreenSTAT different from other visitor satisfaction systems?
What does it cost?
Is it an annual cost?
How would people get to know about it?
What is GreenSpace doing to publicise GreenSTAT
What if people don’t go online?
How do I access my data?
Can I get data reports?
How do I access that data?
How can GreenSTAT be used as a management tool?
What about benchmarking with other authorities?
How does it help with applying for Green Flag Award status?
I’ve heard you can get funding for this from HLF under Parks for People. Is that right?
What sort of resource is required from me?
How do I join?

What is GreenSTAT?

• The GreenSTAT visitor survey system provides a national standard approach for all parks and green spaces, examining the nature of people’s visits, their perceptions and satisfaction with the space, and who they are.


• At the heart of the GreenSTAT system is a database driven website allowing respondents to complete a questionnaire directly online, with no further data entry requirement.


• Respondents can choose between two online questionnaires, answering questions about the whole parks service or about any individual named parks or open spaces.


• The same question sets have been carefully designed to be used in the more traditional hard copy formats for postal self-completion, and on-site or off-site interview situations.


• If you wish to view the GreenSTAT questionnaires please visit our demonstration website www.greenstatdemo.org.uk or make a comment about your local park or green space on the live website www.greenstat.org.uk

What’s the difference between the questionnaires?

• There are two online questionnaires dealing separately with the whole parks service and individual parks and open spaces.


• There are versions of the questionnaires for face-to-face interviews, both on and off-site, and for postal self-completion use.


• The different versions of the two questionnaires seek the same information but are worded according to the intended use.

How can I see these questionnaires?

Go to www.greenstatdemo.org.uk to see and try out the online versions. Alternatively, if you would like to complete a questionnaire on a local park or open space or on a park service, and have your comments recorded on the GreenSTAT database, go to the live GreenSTAT website, www.greenstat.org.uk.

How is the data stored?

The online questionnaires go directly onto the GreenSTAT database, eliminating the need for data entry and potentially making the system very cost effective. Data entry from paper versions of the questionnaires is done through each client’s administration section of the GreenSTAT database.

Who has access to the data?

Client data is only accessible to nominated members of that client organisation and to GreenSpace. Data used by GreenSpace will always be anonymous.

What makes GreenSTAT different from other visitor satisfaction systems?

• GreenSTAT allows any resident anywhere in the country to provide their comments about any park or open space or local authority park service.


• GreenSTAT seeks to become the first ever national standard approach to visitor surveys for parks and open spaces, and has the potential to create national benchmarking opportunities for parks managers.


• GreenSTAT provides opportunities for national, regional and local benchmarking


• GreenSTAT provides both a management tool and visitor satisfaction data


• GreenSTAT is supported by CABE Space and HLF.


• GreenSTAT provides both service wide and site specific data.


• GreenSTAT allows clients to collect data on an unlimited number of their parks and open spaces.
  
• GreenSTAT allows clients to collect an unlimited number of responses.


• GreenSTAT questionnaires submitted online require no data entry.


• GreenSTAT is currently being used by 60 local authorities


• GreenSTAT is managed by GreenSpace, the only national charity dedicated to the support and promotion of parks and open spaces and the organisations that manage and maintain them.

What does it cost?

Cost of membership depends on the size of your authority and there is a substantial discount for GreenSpace members.

Click here to see the cost table

Is it an annual cost?

Your subscription runs for 12 months from the date of joining.

How would people get to know about it?

• As with all forms of consultation, you will need to publicise GreenSTAT locally. GreenSpace provides new clients with detailed guidance on marketing, based on the experience of existing clients and extensive pilot study.


• GreenSpace also provide clients with customised templates for publicity material. These can be used for fliers, posters, banners, stickers and banner adverts for your website.

What is GreenSpace doing to publicise GreenSTAT?

• There are links on our new website to GreenSTAT.


• From time to time we shall run specific marketing campaigns to boost the response rate with using our extensive network of contacts.


• GreenSTAT is promoted , wherever possible, through other GreenSpace activities such as conferences, the Love Parks Week campaign and newsletters.

What if people don’t go online?

• The same questionnaires have been carefully designed to be replicated in the more traditional hard copy formats for postal self-completion, and on-site or off-site interview situations. These can be used to support the online responses where necessary.


• We will send you a guide on how to publicise GreenSTAT.


• We can provide you with customised templates for use in your marketing. These can be used for fliers, posters, banners, stickers and banner adverts for your website.

How do I access my data?

All clients have their own login and password and can then access, at any time, all the data submitted by their parks’ visitors. Clients can further allocate logins to others giving them varying levels of access to the system.

Can I get data reports?

Clients can produce qualitative and quantitative data tables at the touch of a button.
I’ve noticed my authority and parks are on the database already.

How do I access that data?

Only clients who have signed up to GreenSTAT can access survey data. From time to time GreenSpace will send the other local authorities a summary of the comments made by respondents in their area.

How can GreenSTAT be used as a management tool?

Clients can profile all their parks and open spaces with GreenSTAT. It provides quantitative and qualitative data and allows clients to compare results across all the sites they manage.

What about benchmarking with other authorities?

GreenSTAT provides national data against which clients can benchmark. As the scheme is taken up by even more organisations there will be opportunities to establish various benchmarking groups based geographically or by type of organisation. We anticipate a steering group of clients giving advice on what benchmarking groups should be established.

How does it help with applying for Green Flag Award status?

The Green Flag Award requires applicants to demonstrate community engagement and that management reflects the aspirations of visitors and residents. Clients can develop a better understanding of visitor aspirations through GreenSTAT and use this information to manage their open spaces as effectively as possible. Clients can also record their self-assessment score within the open spaces profile.

I’ve heard you can get funding for this from HLF under Parks for People. Is that right?

Yes – in most circumstances the cost of GreenSTAT can be included in your application to HLF. More

What sort of resource is required from me?

• To get started all we need is an up to date list of all your parks and open spaces


• Clients will need to promote the system but we can provide them with most of the necessary tools and guidance


• The data received from paper versions of the questionnaires have to be entered by the client or companies they employ to perform this function.


• Data reports are easy to produce and we estimate clients can run a report on all of the questions in less than an hour

How do I join?

You just need to telephone us at GreenSpace on 0118 946 9060 or email greenstat@green-space.org.uk. We will ask you for a purchase order and within a few days of providing your list of parks you will be live on the system.