The Outdoors And Age (Adults)

This is the second part of a series of blogs looking at different age ranges and how they differ in their interactions with the outdoors. For the sake of this blog Adults are in the age range of 16-65 as this is where the data is. Adults as a whole are our most independent age range and will require less assistance with accessing the outdoors. Despite this they are much busier than the other two age ranges (Children and Elderly). Adults make up roughly 63% of our population so it's very important they understand the great benefits of the outdoors and are really making the most of them.

So let's start with how often are adults going outside? 53% of adults go to an outdoors space once a week and 15% of adults manage to go outside everyday. This ends up being roughly 6.5 million adults which is really encouraging to see.  Unfortunately 14% of people will go outside once a month. This gives us a good picture of how often people are going outside but where are they going? Half of adults going outside are attending parks or urban green spaces. Rivers, lakes and Canals are visited by roughly a third of adults and just under a third of adults visit farmland, countryside and woodlands. And 29% of people visit the coast. So other than parks Adults are spending time in a wide variety of natural spaces. Unfortunately in the last five years people have been making less use of their gardens with only 75% of adults making use of their garden once a week. 7 out of 10 adults are able to walk to a green space in less than 15 minutes and more adults are saying it's easy to walk to an outdoors space. The younger group of adults tend to spend more time outside than older aged adults. Some of this data is really encouraging and some of it is not. Compared to children on the whole adults are spending significantly less time outside than children.

For some adults time outside is clearly an important part of life and for others it has less importance. It's important for adults to spend time outside due to the positive benefits to their well being. Time outside is widely accepted to improve mental, physical and social health.

Mental Health: Natural environments make us feel less stressed as spending time in them lowers our cortisol levels. This lowers our blood pressure and heart rate making us feel more relaxed. Sunlight and fresh air increase serotonin levels which helps combat low mood and anxiety. It's vital that adults are looking after their mental health. Lots of people rely on adults for support: the elderly, children and other adults. On top of this adults’ work and other life commitments it can be a lot. Going on challenging hikes or runs can develop resilience and mental fortitude helping equip people for the difficult chapters of life. 91% of adults who go outside once every two weeks believe the outdoors to have a positive effect on their mental health. Natural environments offer a great escape from the stresses of life.

Physical Health: The Outdoors is a great place to exercise and naturally outdoor environments encourage movement whether that's running, walking or engaging in sport. The outdoors does so much more for our physical health than just being a place to exercise. Sunlight is a source of vitamin D and exposure to natural light improves sleep quality through regulating the body's circadian rhythm. Time in natural spaces can also improve your Immunity, specifically forest environments contain phytoncides which are released by trees and increase your white blood cells which are responsible for fighting infection.

Social Health: As natural spaces have all of the benefits we have just read about, they make for an excellent place to socialise. In the summer lots of adults will meet in parks to have picnics, to just hang out or kick a ball about. Group outdoor activities can also often involve a shared sense of achievement, like completing a run or a hike. This communal sense of achievement brings people closer together.

So what's stopping adults from going outside and accessing these great benefits?

The Government did some research on this and they found that. 45% of people said the weather prevented them from going outside, 26% said poor physical health, 24% said homelife gets in the way and 21% said work commitments. These factors certainly do hinder going outside however I believe they do not fully rule out adults accessing the outdoors.

Weather is a factor that in the UK has a massive effect on stopping all people from going outside. Many outdoorsy people will argue there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. This is not a motto I fully subscribe to, especially when I am stuck in the rain on a hike. But dressing for the weather can help us be more comfortable on those days when the sun isn’t shining. Outdoors clothing can be expensive but if you buy quality items they will look after you for a while and see you through many adventures. So there isn’t a way adults can change the weather but they most certainly can work with it through what they are choosing to wear.

Poor physical health will definitely make it harder to go outside. But when your physical health is down you're going to want to ensure you look after your mental health and going outside is a great way to do just that. Many green spaces have been tailored to be accessible for disabled users. Canals are a great way for those with mobility issues to access the outdoors. They have  flat footpaths which often accommodate wheelchair access. If having poor physical health is a barrier that stops you from going outside, asking for the support of others to help get you outside could help you to reap the benefits of the outdoors.

The last two main barriers were home and work commitments getting in the way. Adults have responsibilities and, unfortunately as I have learnt from moving out, there are a lot of them. I wish adults didn’t have responsibilities and could just spend all their time outside. There is nothing we can do to remove these barriers and it's a privilege to look after family members and be able to work but they can stop us from having time to do the things we want to. I believe there are two aspects of getting around this barrier. The first being if adults understood just how good the outdoors is for them then they would make time. If more adults are educated on the great benefits of the outdoors they will prioritise going outside. Adults need to be encouraged to go outside through the use of the media, social media and word of mouth. Once adults appreciate the importance of going outside, they are more likely to set time aside to do so. Therefore the second aspect is them doing that and actually going outside. The more adults go outside they will realise how easy it is to access the great benefits available to them through spending time in nature. And as a result of this realization they are much more likely to go outside more often.

Roughly 6.5 million adults are accessing the benefits of the outdoors on a daily basis. And just over half of adults in the UK are going outside once a week. These are both really encouraging statistics but unfortunately 14% only go outside once a month. To get more Brits outside and reaping these great benefits as a nation we need to be spreading the awareness of what good it does for people. Adults encounter a few barriers when it comes to going outside but nothing that should completely rule out any access to the outdoors. So let's make sure we are going outside and bring those around us with us!

 

The Outdoors And Age (Children)

Our age has a very big effect on what our day to day life looks like. A baby will spend their day reliant on adults, Adults will most likely be more independent but will have more responsibilities and the elderly may also require assistance in day to day tasks. Age has a big effect on British people's interactions with the outdoors. Originally, I started this blog intending to cover all ages and how they interact with the outdoors however this would have been a very large topic so I have broken it down into a series.  In this blog I am going to focus on children, I will later release two others one focusing on adults and the last on the elderly. 

Children are one of the most well researched age groups when it comes to outside interactions. A survey done by the UK Gov suggests, this is because on the whole children spend more time outside than adults, with 70% of children going outside once a week. Out of that percentile 72% of children were visiting urban greenspaces, with 36% attending the countryside and the remaining 17% going to the coast. Adults are very important mediators when it comes to getting children outside with 66% of children who visit an outdoors space once a week are taken by an adult.  So how come 30% of children aren't going outside once a week? Research done by the UK Gov shows that children from lower income areas and BAME backgrounds are less likely to spend time outside. As these groups encounter more barriers when trying to go outdoors, parents struggle to take children outside or will at least do so less often. (Read my blog on The Outdoors and The Class system where I go into further depth on this subject). Children spend the majority of their time outside playing both when with and without an adult. As children get older and more independent children start to spend more of that time doing physical activity, spending time with friends and using the outdoors to relax. 

This gives us a great understanding of how and how often children are going outside. But why is it so important for children to be getting into the outdoors?

Time spent outside is widely accepted to improve wellbeing, however children who spend time outside tend to reap more benefits than adults do. They benefit from: cognitive benefits, physical development, positive mental health, social development and a stronger appreciation of nature. To understand these areas better I have spoken to the best forest school teacher I know, Alison, my Mum! Forest schools is a form of education based in the outdoors where children are given more freedom than in the traditional classroom. They learn how to make a fire, play outdoor games and observe nature. So who better to ask about the benefits of the outdoors to children than a forest school teacher!

The Nature of outdoor play helps children reap cognitive benefits, meaning it helps them think more effectively. Alison believes that there is no right way to play outside which opens children up to a wide variety of ways to experience the outdoors. The style of problem solving tasks and games involving imagination allows children to develop their ability to make decisions, create plans and to adapt these decisions and plans. Children learn how to explore and engage with risk, laying a foundation for skills they will use for the rest of their life.

Outdoor play is excellent for physical development. It encourages movement like running, jumping and climbing which can improve muscle strength and bone density. Outdoor play also lays a great foundation for a healthy adulthood. Children who exercise to a sufficient amount are at lower risk of suffering from obesity or cancer when they are older.

Spending time outside is one of the best things we can do to look after our mental health and this is so true of children as well. Even just 20 minutes outside is shown to improve mood. Time in natural spaces lowers cortisol, which is the stress hormone, this makes us calmer. Natural light is proven to boost serotonin and endorphins leaving us feeling happier. It's important children grow up with a strong understanding of the benefits the outdoors has to their mental health, as this will set them up to reap the benefits as they enter adulthood. Alison shared that children often reflect on their time outside as a part of their sessions, where they develop an awareness of how the outdoors positively affects their mental health.

Playing outdoors is great to help children develop their social skills. Group activities like team games and den building encourage children to communicate ideas and how to navigate conflict when it arises. Outdoor play also encourages children to learn when and how to take risks building confidence in their own judgement. Witnessing a peer get injured or lose a game allows children to develop empathy. The freedom of playing in natural spaces with new obstacles like trees, streams, hills and mud, can allow children to develop confidence as they work around them and figure them out. Alison explained how children also learn a lot from each other when playing outside. She used the example of “Some love digging for worms and watching them move, others will watch from a distance but even if they don't want to be too close they soon become aware they do not need to be fearful of the unknown.” The outdoors is a great place for children’s social development.

Through time outside children develop an appreciation for nature and the world they live in. This will help form a generation who wants to look after the planet we call home. The UK is blessed with some incredible national parks, forests and other various green spaces however we will only be blessed with them as long as we look after them. Alison believes when children spend time outside they form an apparition for nature making them more likely to look after the world they live in.

In order to get more children outside we need to start with awareness. Both children and their parents need to understand just how good going outside for you is. It's important that in school and the family home children are taught the benefits of spending time outside. Ultimately most children rely on their parents to take them to these spaces which is why it's so important the media echoes the great benefits children reap from going outside. Motivating parents to take their children outside will allow children to make the most out of the outdoors for the rest of their lives. So parents lets get your children outside more so they can really make the most of the British outdoors.

The Outdoors and Uni Students

 

University is a world of education, socialising and partying. With most universities in the UK being based in large metropolitan areas, the outdoors isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about student life. Unfortunately, there is limited research into how students are interacting with the outdoors which is specific to the UK. However, we can use research that investigates people of a similar age to gauge an initial understanding. A survey conducted by the UK government states that between the ages of 16–24, only 15% of people don’t access a green space every 14 days. This gives us a good idea that students are going outside. But where are they going, and what are they doing? I am going to explore how university students interact with the outdoors and how it can have a profound impact on their experience at university.

To gain a further understanding, I have conducted my own research where I surveyed 25 students on their interactions with the outdoors. While this will not give us a completely accurate and full representation of all students, it should build some reliable patterns and pictures. This research showed 85% of students are intentionally seeking out green spaces or outdoor areas at least once a week, and 93% at least once every two weeks. This indicates that students are spending slightly more time outside than the rest of their age bracket. My research showed that students mostly spend their time outside walking or taking part in some sort of sport. Out of the 25 students, 18 mentioned walking, and many mentioned a social element, such as going for a run with friends. When asked about the effects of time spent outside, the consensus was that time spent outside is great for both their mental and physical health. They also shared reflections on how time away from screens added to this positive mental effect and how the outdoors is a great cure for boredom.

When looking at the barriers students face while trying to go outside, I saw a wide variety of answers; however, the most popular were the weather, distance and cost to get to outdoor spaces, and time. Some students also showed concern for their safety when being in these spaces alone.

This research builds a great picture for us to draw some key understandings from. Firstly, students are going outside, and even better than that, they are doing so regularly. This is having a positive effect on both their physical and mental health. But Students are facing barriers when going outside. So, if students are reaping the benefits from time spent outside, how can we encourage more to be spending time outside and make it easier to do so?

While being a student, people face many new challenges such as living alone, navigating conflict, and managing finances. That’s before even mentioning the academic pressure. Mental health problems are rising within students, and the UK government states that mental health conditions have doubled in the last decade and continue to increase. University can be a stressful time, which is what makes it so important to help students get outside so they can reap the benefits. Outdoors-themed societies are helping students gather in the outdoors to make the most of what the UK has to offer.

I recently spoke with Josh and Alex, who are on the committee for Leeds Beckett University Outdoors Society, to gain insight into how societies get students outside. As a society, they regularly plan walks either locally or further afield, making the most of public transport. Josh says that having a community makes the outdoors feel much more accessible. Alex commented on the friendly nature of the society and how he enjoys the feeling of achievement after a long hike. Societies provide students with a sense of community, helping motivate them to spend time outside. As a group, they share the sense of achievement after a long hike and are constantly looking to push themselves to walk further and see new places. They are a great way for students to access the outdoors while studying. Universities sometimes also support the use of fieldwork to get students working in a different environment. As institutions, Uni’s are promoting engagement with the outdoors, and they show no signs of stopping. Despite this, students can still struggle to access the outdoors.

The research I conducted highlighted that students have quite a few barriers to overcome when it comes to getting outside. But there are ways to get around these challenges! Students said that the weather often gets in the way of them going outside. The UK is known for having rough weather, and student or not, if it’s raining outside we can’t change that—but we can dress for the weather. This can also come under a cost issue in terms of having to buy more things to go outside. To combat this, students can borrow clothing for wet or cold weather from people they know. Charity shops and websites like Vinted can often have great, cheap options for good raincoats or walking boots. By having a few extra pieces of clothing, time outside in rougher weather a much more comfortable experience.

Another cost for students is the travel to get to outdoor spaces. With most universities being city-based, students often must travel further to find these green spaces. Train and bus fares can start to add up when students are travelling to rural areas or national parks. However, there are often local spots which may not be as big or as impressive, but they still allow students to reap the benefits of time spent outside. I think this ties into a few students I spoke to who felt as though there wasn’t enough information on where to spend time locally outside. This is where having outdoor societies can be beneficial, as they show people their local spots.

The last main barrier students faced was the lack of time. Students tend to have busy lives, but student life is also flexible. Ultimately, if students want to go outside, they will make time to do so. It’s more about awareness of the benefits of time spent outside. When a student understands the positive effect of time spent outside, they make more time for it. Once someone recognises this and starts going outside, I think it’s likely they will continue to do so.

Not all the barriers’ students face can be fixed by the students themselves, so how can they be supported in going outside? A few students commented on the lack of parking; they said if there was more parking, they would spend more time outside. So, I investigated the local parks and their parking. From my house, there were several close parks and forest to drive to with nearby parking—probably meaning this is another problem that falls into the issue of awareness.

As well as students and non-students, we can strive to look after our local spots. Through looking after our local green spaces, we can reduce the amount the local council spends to look after them, resulting in more investment to make them more accessible (in a dream world—this is not likely how the council would work).

It is clear, time spent outside is great for students’ wellbeing. Almost all the students who were asked said that the outdoors is great for their mental health while at university. While also helping their physical health and providing a great space to socialise, there are many benefits to spending time in green spaces. Students unfortunately face several barriers when it comes to accessing the outdoors; however, most of these barriers they can overcome themselves. University is a great time to access the outdoors, and hopefully, students continue to make the most of what the UK’s outdoors have to offer.

 

The Outdoors and Staycations

Staycation is the term recently popularized for holidaying within the UK. It’s the idea of not having to travel too far while still getting a change of scenery to spend time with friends or family. Once considered “second best,” the staycation is becoming a respected part of British holiday culture, taking Brits to some of the most beautiful parts of the UK. Here in the UK, we really are spoilt for choice: hiking in the Lake District, surfing in Cornwall, wild camping in the Hebrides. There are endless ways to engage with the outdoors while on a staycation.

Despite the staycation often being viewed as the alternative to a holiday abroad, traditionally the staycation has been much more popular. Records suggest that from as early as the 19th century people have been holidaying on the British coast. Since the introduction of the first August Bank Holiday in 1871, seaside towns have become a go-to destination for day trips and weekend breaks. As the UK’s railway system developed in the 20th century, it became easier for people to travel to the beaches for a summer getaway. Coastal towns thrived with attractions like Punch and Judy shows, promenades, and bathing beaches. Post–World War II saw the introduction of arcades and amusement rides, and seaside holidays began to offer a wide variety of activities and fun.

Seaside holidays once thrived. So why is it that lots of seaside towns now appear to be abandoned and neglected? After WWII, overseas holidays slowly became more affordable. The 1960s saw the arrival of package holidays, allowing families to swap Blackpool for Benidorm. As tourists left, the coastal towns suffered. Businesses closed and, with the lack of jobs, people started to move inland, leaving seaside towns deprived with many abandoned buildings. The growing popularity of staycations is starting to shed light on this deprivation, and it seems to be the solution. With the staycation market in the UK projected to almost double from 25 million in 2025 to around 45 million in the next ten years, hopefully the increased investment will help return these towns to their former glory.

While the popularity of the staycation originally appeared to be a product of COVID, they seem to be becoming a part of UK culture, with people attracted to the cost and sustainable elements of the staycation. In 2025, 8 out of 10 Brits had a holiday in the UK, with 52% planning one for the next year. People are choosing to staycation for a few key reasons:

• Cost

• Ease

• Flexibility

By nature, staycations are cheaper, cutting out the price of flights. Cheap travel options being available by using coaches, trains, and car shares. Accommodation can also be made more affordable by booking self-catering options or camping.

Staycations are also easier. There are no airports, no long waits, no transfers. Most people will drive to their staycation, which allows them to go directly to their accommodation. It also means they have a car for their holiday, making it easy to visit the surrounding area.

Staycations have a flexible nature by being able to select from a wide range of landscapes and accommodations. People can really tailor their holiday to their own needs, allowing them to holiday with pets. It also means you’re no longer limited to packing just a suitcase—you can pack as much as you can fit in your car.

Those who go on staycations appear to have a level of ownership over their holidays, tailoring them to their specific needs. But where are they going?

Sykes Holiday Cottages conducted research based on bookings for the summer of 2025 to gauge where Brits are travelling on these staycations. Results showed Cumbria, Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Devon, and Gwynedd (Snowdonia) are the most popular spots. This indicates a diversity in staycations between mountain getaways and seaside holidays. With a growing popularity in hiking, more Brits are going to popular walking spots to experience new challenges and see new views. Seaside staycations let people experience the sea in fresh ways, like surfing, which is a popular staycation activity on the southwest coast of England. Brits are also exploring new locations. Some of the destinations that are growing in popularity are the Northumberland coast and the Derbyshire countryside. City breaks are also a popular form of staycation, with people visiting cities like Liverpool, Manchester, and Brighton to experience a new city dynamic and culture. With coastal and mountain holidays growing in popularity, those on staycations tend to be engaging more with nature than on other holidays.

With more people going on staycations, there is a growing effect on the outdoors. As people travel to places of natural beauty, there are both positive and negative effects on the outdoors itself.

Unfortunately, littering is becoming a growing problem. As Brits flock to national parks, they are leaving their rubbish behind. Campaign for National Parks is a UK-based charity that is finding that a combination of lack of environmental awareness and personal responsibility is to blame for the increase in littering. As wild camping has also become more popular, people tend to be doing what is described as fly camping (which means they are not taking everything they came with and not leaving the national parks as they were when they arrived). This waste not only affects the natural beauty of the land but also is dangerous to both plants and animals. There is a growing concern surrounding the littering at the popular staycation spot, the Lake District, where sheep and birds have been ingesting litter, leading to health problems. Rubbish often ends up in mountain streams and tarns, which is having a negative effect on aquatic life. Fix the Fells is a group of volunteers active in the Lake District trying to prevent the damage done by this littering. They believe through vigorous planning and hard work they will be able to prevent a large proportion of the damage caused by this litter. However, it should not be their responsibility to protect this land. If those visiting these places of natural beauty cleaned up after themselves, it would dramatically help keep the wild places wild.

Tourists can also disturb wildlife through loud noises, dogs being off lead, and sometimes even just human presence can disturb nature. The Farne Islands in Northumberland are home to over 20 species of birds, and in the summer, there can be up to 100,000 breeding pairs on the islands. Boat tours and many visitors to the islands can heavily disturb these animals, which is why the National Trust has applied heavy restrictions to visits during the breeding season. With increasing visits to national parks, there is a growing pressure on the ecosystems. Sensitive habitats can be affected by trampling, camping, or water sports. It is important tourists remain conscious of where they are and how they can respect the land.

Despite placing more stress on the environment, holidaymakers provide financial support to preserving these areas. Through money spent on entry fees, car parking, and spending in gift shops, organisations are able to fund conservation programs. The National Trust owns 620,000 acres of UK land that will regularly be visited by those on their holidays. As an organisation, they plan to plant 20 million trees to help tackle climate change. Focused on protecting animals and plants native to the UK, their stewardship of British land has protected many species from extinction, allowing those on staycation to appreciate the natural beauty of the UK. The National Trust is not alone; the Eden Project (Cornwall), English Heritage, and many other organisations use finance gained through tourism to conserve British land, often educating tourists on the matters that are putting pressure on the environment. Those on staycation leave with a better understanding of how they can protect the environment, allowing them to protect the places they have visited for those who come after them.

With increasing popularity, staycations seem as though they are here to stay. With the staycation market growing, there appears to be hope in restoring seaside towns to their former glory. Staycations are allowing Brits to immerse themselves in the outdoors, which can unfortunately put pressure on the environment. Its great that more people can experience the natural beauty of the UK and with increased education and awareness the environment can be protected at the same time. Its encouraging to see conservation projects working so hard to protect the outdoors and the beauty of the UK.

The Outdoors and Canals

 The canal system in the UK spans over 2,000 miles, with 4.3 million people using these waterways every two weeks. Canals hold significant importance in facilitating outdoor interaction for the UK. Originally built for industrial use, the UK’s canal system once extended to almost 4,000 miles in length. Since their industrial purpose, canals have evolved into spaces for exercise, exploration, and living. Canals have played a significant role in my engagement with the outdoors during my time at university. I've spent many afternoons walking along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, providing a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Through this blog, I will explore how canals offer vast opportunities for public access to the outdoors.

Canals have existed in the UK for close to 500 years, with the first canals arriving in the early 1500s. During the Industrial Revolution (1750–1914), the canal network was dramatically expanded and improved to provide a more efficient means of transporting heavy freight. They connected seaports to cities, with the majority of canal use linked to the coal industry due to the constant high demand for coal in metal industries. The waterways thrived during what's described as the ‘Golden Age’ of British canals (1770s–1830s) however they had several major issues. The canals failed to connect all UK cities, lacking central planning. Consequently, there was no intention to connect all cities, nor were the canals built uniformly in terms of width or depth, meaning certain boats couldn't navigate the entire system. Travel also became expensive due to the addition of tolls on certain parts of the system. Moreover, canals were slow, requiring materials to be ordered well in advance. The obsolescence of canals became apparent in the latter stages of the Industrial Revolution (post-1850), as the railway system replaced canals as Britain's primary transport method. In 1948, most of the canal system was nationalized under the British Transport Commission, whose governance reduced the utilized parts of the canal to its current size for better manageability. With the last commercial contract for coal transportation on a canal ending in 1971, the waterway system has undergone significant changes in its use. The boom of the ‘Golden Age’ has left contemporary UK with a Canal system that offers broad opportunities to interact with the great outdoors.

The Canal & River Trust currently look after the canal system. They emphasize the importance of time spent in nature and exercise in improving well-being. A study led by Glasgow Caledonian University between 2001 and 2017 focused on the impact of regeneration along the Forth & Clyde Canal in Glasgow. It found a decline in mortality rates among people living close to the canal compared to those living further away. The use of waterways for exercise significantly contributes to these statistics. Every two weeks, the Canal & River Trust waterways host 690,000 cyclists and 650,000 runners. Canals also offer water-based sports and activities such as fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. The Trust supports various initiatives to promote canal use for improved well-being. The ‘Swim Sista Swim’ program aims to help Nottingham's African Caribbean community become more confident around water. Building confidence around water encourages more people to utilize canals fully. Sessions of the program started with swimming in a pool and discussing dangers of the water and the sessions ended with the women canoeing in a Canal. The Canal & River Trust is exploring additional ways to increase canal usage, helping more people reap the benefits of canal engagement.

Canal towpaths are often flat, allowing for a wide range of uses and users. Their flat nature makes them easily accessible to individuals with limited mobility and are often wheelchair-friendly. Enabling those who may not be able to hike extensively to still enjoy scenic routes and engage with the natural beauty of the outdoors. The Canal & River Trust provides information on their website about the best canal access points for disabled users. They also offer a wealth of information for canal users, including walk suggestions and holiday destinations near the waterways. The Trust is committed to improving accessibility for disabled boaters, holding online forums every three months where disabled boaters can offer suggestions and ask questions to enhance their canal experience. The Accessible Waterways Association strives to make canals more accessible for everyone, with a particular focus on disabled users. Their Boaters’ Blue Card scheme helps disabled boaters inform others that they may not be able to react as quickly or efficiently as other boaters. This encourages those around them to be more considerate of their space and needs. While the Blue Card doesn't offer special mooring privileges like a disabled parking badge, it aims to raise awareness for disabled boaters. Charities like Waterways Experiences and the Bruce Trust provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy canal boat holidays. Waterways Experiences states on their website that they help people build confidence on the water, and even if they are unable to steer or operate locks, canals still offer great access to nature. Canals are becoming increasingly accessible, allowing more people to enjoy the outdoors by land (towpaths) or by water (the canal).

Canals also offer the opportunity to live amidst nature, with roughly 35,000 people residing on the UK's canal systems. The primary way people live on canals in the UK is by residing on narrowboats, which allow people to explore and stay in some of the UK's most remote areas. Narrowboats are also recognized for promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. Gareth Tennant's blog, The Narrowboat Nomad, shares his experiences and advice he has for others living on the UK's waterways. He highlights the main advantages of narrowboat living as freedom, closeness to nature, and a minimalist lifestyle. He notes that while living on a narrowboat requires adjustment and has disadvantages like limited space and amenities, it offers a unique experience of the outdoors. Recently, concerns have grown regarding the increasing complexities of living on the waterways. With government reductions in funding to the Canal & River Trust and rising boat license fees, transitioning to canal life has become more daunting. Whilst conducting my own research, Lynda from Coventry shared that one of her favourite aspects of living on a narrowboat is the sense of freedom. When asked how living on a narrowboat helps her connect with nature, she shared that she spends all her time immersed in it. People living on these boats enjoy the unique experience of being constantly surrounded by nature. Living on UK waterways provides one of the most immersive ways to live amongst nature in Britain.

Canals offer regular access to the great outdoors for many in the UK. Originally designed for commercial use, they have undergone a transformation in use and purpose. While nationalization led to the closure of around 2,000 miles of canals to the public, the remaining 2,000 miles are thriving under the stewardship of the Canal & River Trust. The public use canals for commuting, exercising, and some even call the waterways home. Canals also provide unique access to nature for those with limited mobility. Hopefully, canals will continue to be protected spaces where the public can explore and engage with the outdoors.

The Outdoors and The Class System

 

In the UK, we are privileged to have a wide variety of ways to experience the outdoors. 65% of the UK will intentionally spend time in outdoor spaces every two weeks. But who makes up this 65%? Who makes up the other 35%, and why are they not going outside? In the UK, the prominent class system influences many walks of life. In this blog, I explore how the UK class system affects the way people engage with the outdoors in the UK. Written from the point of view of someone who loves time outside in nature, I want to see more engagement with the outdoors from all classes. I struggled to find strong statistics that dissect the differences between each class and how they relate to the outdoors. However, through investigation, I have built a strong understanding of these differences. Through these investigations, I have found that this blog could have easily been a series of books. I have only managed to outline some findings, and I may revisit some of the ideas explored in future blogs.

The UK class system divides people into three main groups: working class, middle class, and upper class. These three groups certainly have different experiences out in the outdoors, but let’s start with how accessible the outdoors is. In 2020, a survey by Ramblers found that those who earn over £35,000 a year live within five minutes of green space, whereas less than half of those earning £15,000 have the same access to green space. The same study showed that during Covid-19, people’s value for the outdoors increased as the benefits of spending time outside became more apparent.

The first big barrier the working class faces when it comes to spending time outside is accessibility. Having to travel further to get to outdoor space costs both time and money. Studies conducted by the UK government also support the idea that those from a higher socio-economic background spend more time outside. These studies also suggest that those from a lower-income background have less of a cultural association with spending time outside. For a long time, this disparity in spending time outside has been known, and there have been many attempts to make the outdoors more accessible.

Lots of these approaches have been aimed towards the youth, as it is widely accepted that younger people are spending increasingly less time outside. The UK education system is creating more opportunities for children to interact with the outdoors. Since the 90s, Forest Schooling has been giving children an opportunity to learn in a completely new way. The Forest School Association describes Forest Schooling as a child-centred inspirational learning process that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner-inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting. Forest Schooling is currently taking the state and private primary schools across England by storm. Forest Schooling is now available in over 200 state schools in England. Forest Schools give children opportunities to learn from and about the outdoors. However, Forest Schooling requires specialist training, so private schools are having an easier time when it comes to introducing Forest Schooling to the curriculum. Forest Schooling continues to rise in popularity and use across the UK, having many benefits for children from all classes but being more accessible to those from higher-income backgrounds.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is where lots of young people in the UK will get their first opportunity to experience the outdoors as a hiker, a camper, a map reader. It’s an awards program with three levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) aimed to develop young people to be broader in skill set. One aspect of the DofE is the expedition, which involves hiking and camping skills, with each level of the award extending the length of the expedition. 2024 saw 545,910 young people participate in the program. In 2022/2023, 262 schools in the UK introduced DofE for the first time, with a staggering 98 of those coming from some of the most deprived areas in the UK. Three-quarters of the schools in the UK are now offering the award. On top of this, scout groups, youth groups, and faith groups offer DofE.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is very successful at getting young people outside and allowing them to experience nature in a whole new way. The Duke of Edinburgh Award can become expensive, especially when it comes to kit. If you need to buy new clothes, a rain jacket, and walking boots, the costs can quickly add up. Financial barriers can still get in the way of participating in DofE, making it harder for working-class young people to engage. Despite this, bursary programs aim to bridge the gap and make the award more accessible. The Duke of Edinburgh Award has vast success when it comes to getting more people outside. The expedition allows young people to experience the outdoors in a new and inspiring way. Statements on the DofE website also suggest that the award’s promotion of a more active lifestyle increases the participants’ regular outdoor activity. DofE manages to give young people a new experience of the outdoors and also encourages a lifestyle that incorporates more time spent outside.

Across the class system, people are spending more time outdoors, but often in different ways. Go Outdoors, one of the UK’s leading outdoor retailers, conducted research on the growth of outdoor activities in 2024. Interestingly, they found a significant rise in low-cost outdoor activities. Searches for nature walks grew by 53% compared to the previous year, suggesting that more people are exploring their local areas. Foraging saw a 20% increase, indicating a growing interest in the UK’s natural offerings. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have played a key role in spreading awareness of the country's natural beauty. This social media influence has led to increased participation in outdoor activities across all social classes, making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible than ever.

Walking has great popularity amongst everyone. With 76.5% of people across the UK going on a walk once a month, people seem to be united in their love of walking. However, everyone is not the same when it comes to outdoor activity. The upper class are known for their love of country sports. Currently, there are approximately 600,000 regularly taking part in shooting in the UK. The National Shooting Show 2024 had a record attendance, indicating that there is growing popularity for the sport. Interestingly, women are becoming more active in shooting, with more ethical shooting options becoming available. Shooting has become more available to middle-class members of society, which has been praised for its growing success. Other sports have seen similar success, like horse riding, which has traditionally been labelled as an upper-class sport. Stats from the British Equestrian Trade suggest the sport has also grown to be more accessible to the middle class, with an increasing interest and participation. Outdoor sports which have traditionally been loved by the upper class continue to thrive amongst the upper class, whilst middle-class participation is increasing.

All three classes engage with the outdoors through the use of recreational sport. These sports tend to differ based on socioeconomic background and how that lines up with cost of participation. Sports like football, fishing, and running are thriving in working-class areas—some of the most available sports in the UK, making for low-cost participation, often requiring little more than a pair of trainers or basic gear. The easy access gives people opportunities to spend time outdoors.

Sports like rugby, cycling, and hockey continue to be popular sports amongst the middle class. But the middle class have also seen an increase in diversity to other outdoor sports, as already seen with shooting. Post-Covid, golf has increased in popularity. More courses available without requiring a seasonal membership makes it easier to just turn up and play. With the introduction to the Olympics, rock climbing has seen a large increase in participation. Most people will train in indoor bouldering gyms; however, they take these skills outside to climb natural walls, giving people a whole new way to relate to their outdoor environment.

Camping is a personal favourite way to enjoy nature. Those who come from higher-income backgrounds tend to camp more often. In the UK, about 40% go camping once a year. Camping is more accessible to those who live amongst rural or suburban areas. Often, those who come from a lower-income background live in more urban areas, meaning they would have to travel further to be able to enjoy camping. On top of travel costs, there is the cost for kit and paying to use campsites. Similarly to DofE, there are other schemes to promote outdoor activities and make them more accessible. The Alpkit Foundation offers small grants ranging from £50 to £500 to community groups, schools, and organisations across the UK to get people outside and enjoying the beauty of the British countryside. There have also been pushes to make camping in wilder spots more accessible. CampWild offers campers the opportunity to pitch tents in previously restricted wild areas across the UK, increasing the growth in wild camping participation across the UK, allowing those that do camp to be more immersed in nature than they have been before.

It would be great to see more than 65% of people in the UK intentionally spending time outside every two weeks. The upper class and middle class tend to live closer to green spaces, making this much easier. Those in the working class tend to encounter more barriers when it comes to spending time outside. There are schemes aimed to get people outside; lots are aimed towards young people. Forest Schooling thrived in the UK since its introduction in the 90s and continues to grow in popularity. DofE has also had great success in getting people outside and experiencing nature in new ways. Both have reached people of all classes, however, they are more accessible to those outside the working class. The classes engage with the outdoors in different ways; this is most easily seen with their different interests in outdoor sports. It is encouraging to see a growing awareness of low-cost outdoor activities making the opportunities to enjoy the outdoors more accessible. Post-Covid, there seems to be a growing understanding of the benefits of spending time outdoors. Hopefully, this continues and transpires into more people falling in love with the great outdoors.