MPs Call for Reforms to Advance Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature in England
A more active and healthy country can be achieved by improving access to England's natural spaces, says a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature.
The report, which gathered views from over 750 organisations and individuals, highlights that much of England's countryside remains inaccessible, with 20 million people not living within 15 minutes of green or blue spaces.
The APPG also acknowledges the substantial economic contribution of the outdoor sector - a £25bn+ industry supporting over 500,000 jobs.
Outdoors For All: Recommendations for Government on Access to Nature provides bold and practical advice to the Government, outlining policy and legislative options to achieve inclusive access for more people.
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC), Paddle UK and The Ramblers, acting as the Secretariat for the APPG, worked together to facilitate the inquiry.
It follows the Labour Government expressing their intent to “open up even more opportunities for adults and children alike to get out and enjoy nature…” *
The report emphasises the need to balance access with environmental protection and respect for other users and landowners.
The report contains 40 recommendations in total. Key recommendations from the report include:
- Expanding Access: Establish statutory rights to responsible access across a broader range of landscapes, including but not limited to inland waters, woodlands and other suitable natural environments, and for a broader range of recreational activities, including wild camping, paddling, swimming, cycling, caving and horse riding.
- Improving Existing Access: Establish an Access to Nature Investment Strategy enabling local highway authorities to apply for resources based on assessed local needs and opportunities aligned with national priorities. Remove barriers like stiles, and simplify footpath upgrades.
- Accessing Blue Spaces: Expand access rights for swimming and non-motorised craft on inland waters through new legislation or amendments to existing acts, such as the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW), an Access to Nature Bill, or the upcoming Water Reform Bill.
- Children Spending Time Outdoors: Establish a requirement for all children and young people to experience at least one residential outdoor experience, linked to curriculum outcomes at KS2, using Pupil Premium to ensure inclusion for all.
- Promoting Health and Wellbeing Outcomes: Enshrine access to nature as a statutory public health responsibility by amending the Health and Social Care Act.
- Planning and Transport: Improve public transport links to and from green and blue spaces, including increased frequency, expanded routes and affordability.
- Governance, Strategy and Accountability: Publish a long-term Government plan to improve public access to nature, with a clear vision, strategy, legally binding targets, backed by an Access to Nature Investment Strategy to direct funding.
- Awareness and Education: Overhaul the Countryside Code to promote access and responsible behavior. Implement a National Ranger Service, and transform the Ordnance Survey App into a free, universal tool.
The call from the sector is clear: we need ambitious new legislation to expand everyone’s access to green and blue spaces. We have a unique opportunity to build on the legacy left for us by previous Labour Governments, who have always sought to ensure that we can all enjoy Britain’s natural beauty. This not only means opening up new landscapes and waterways for responsible recreation but breaking down the physical and cultural barriers that prevent people, particularly those less physically able, from enjoying them. With the sector behind us, we can transform how the whole country enjoys nature for generations to come.
The government now has an historic opportunity to improve access for everyone to the great outdoors through primary legislation. Today’s report sets out clear policy priorities ministers can deliver across government to provide tangible improvements to access. We know spending more time outdoors has incredible mental and physical health benefits. Yet, with 93% of the English countryside still out of bounds to the public, too often people struggle to enjoy outdoor spaces. Now is the time to deliver lasting change, so that each and every one of us can exercise a right to responsibly enjoy our natural surroundings.
The full report is now available to download from the APPG Outdoors website.
