DOI: 10.17866/rd.salford.3420886
title: Education scores and analysis for research sites within Manchester and Salford

description: This file contains the education scores for all 49 research sites.  The educational signs, evidence of educational use and proximity of educational establishments data were combined to form education ecosystem service scores for all 49 sites.  Two cross-tabulation analysis (area groups and types of site analysis) were performed to illustrate the education scores across all 49 sites.  For the area groups analysis, the sites were split into four different area groups in order to show the distribution of the scores across all 49 sites.  These area groups are as follows: (1) between 1m<sup>2</sup> and 2499m<sup>2</sup>; (2) between 2500m<sup>2</sup> and 5499m<sup>2</sup>; (3) between 5500m<sup>2</sup> and 7999m<sup>2</sup>; (4) larger than or equals to 8000m<sup>2</sup>.  For the types of site analysis, the sites were split into two different types - aquatic or terrestrial.<br>The area groups analysis shows four sites having an education score of one. Three of these sites are larger than or equals to 8000m<sup>2</sup>, and they are site 4 (Blackfish pond one), site 5 (Blackfish pond two), and site 25 (Old Trafford INCOM site).  These sites do not contain educational signs to inform the public of aspects of the sites. There is no evidence of educational use found for these sites.  Finally, they are all between 401m to 1000m walking distances from their nearest educational establishments, which makes them moderately to difficult to get to by foot.  On the other end of the scale, three sites achieved the highest education score. Two of them (sites 3 - Alexandra Park pond and 45 - Three Sisters) are larger than or equal to 8000m<sup>2</sup>.  These two sites possess signs that inform the public about multiple aspects of the site, in particular, the biodiversity one can expect to find within the sites.  They are also within 100m from their nearest educational establishment, which are easiest to get to by foot. Finally, there is evidence of on-going educational activities for both sites. Site 3 (Alexandra Park pond) is described within the main website of Alexandra Park, which contains information (history, ecology, and an interactive map) of the site. There is a learning centre specifically tailor lessons for the children who use Alexandra Park.  The pond itself has a secure education zone. There is also a Friends of Alexandra Park (a local resident group) caring for the park. These programs are on-going. Site 45 (Three Sisters) is managed by the Salford Rangers. They regularly organise volunteer conservation sessions on-site and these sessions are on-going.  One site out of the three that achieved the highest education scores, site 33 (Primrose Primary School pond), has an area less than 2500m<sup>2</sup>. This site, incidentally, also achieved the lowest recreation score.  However, site 33 is situated within Primrose Primary School. It has an educational sign that explains multiple aspects of the pond, and in particular, the biodiversity the students can expect to observe and learn from the pond. The pond is also regularly used as an educational tool for the students of the school, even though the pond is not accessible to the general public.<br>The types of site analysis shows that four of the 49 sites (8%) achieved the lowest educational score, which is one.  The four sites that achieved the lowest education score, three of them are aquatic sites (site 4 – Blackfish pond one, site 5 – Blackfish pond two, and site 6 – Blackley New Road pond one), and one of them is a terrestrial site (site 25 – Old Trafford INCOM site). The three sites that achieved the highest education score are all aquatic sites (site 3 – Alexandra Park pond, site 33 – Primrose Hill Primary School pond, and site 45 – Three Sisters).  The education ecosystem service scores were examined to see if there is a significant difference between aquatic and terrestrial sites.  The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test shows that p-value of 0.838 is larger that 0.05.  This implies that there is no significant difference the between the type of sites compared with the education score each site gets, out of 49 sites surveyed.