Evaluating the flora and visitor dynamics of Cantonment Garden Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

Cantonment Garden Multan is a famous historic site with key importance in the life of the local community. It is one of the well-maintained gardens in Multan city, famous for its notable diversity of plants. This study was planned to document visitors' experience and approaches to improve facilities in Cantonment Gardens Multan. The floral data were collected visually, while a questionnaire-based face-to-face interview of 151 visitors was conducted about visitors’ preferences, causes of attraction, purpose of visit, facilities, and people activities with demographic characteristics. The visitors were also asked about recommendations and suggestions for the improvements of the garden. The data were analyzed statistically by using the standard statistical procedure SPSS (software). According to the results, a significant relationship was recorded between visitor satisfaction and physical activities in the garden. Most of the visitors showed higher satisfaction with conservation (82.1%) and maintenance (69.5%) of the garden. Maximum people (89.4%) like to walk in gardens or parks, rather than on the roadside because of traffic rush and air pollution. Visitor’s favorite trees were evergreen (65.6%) flowering (41.1%) with red color flowers (35.1%) along with natural paving material (35.8%) and waterfalls (26.5%). Most of the visitors were not recommended by the doctor (76.2%) and preferred to visit the garden with their family (58.3%). Maximum (55%) people preferred parks and gardens for outings with the cantonment garden as most favorite garden (64%). Visitors suggested the addition of flowering trees (13.2%), dustbins (9.3%), lighting (7.3%), rain shelter (6.6%), music corner (5.3%), and water cooler (4%), improving zoo (11.3%), canteen and food (9.9%), gym (4%) and maintenance of plants and trees (6.6%). It is concluded that well-planned and maintained gardens play a positive role in the life of the local community. Moreover, facilities in the gardens play important role for attraction of visitors.