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.