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.
