A more active and healthy country can be achieved by expanding access to England’s natural spaces, say MPs.
A new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature was launched in the Attlee & Reid Room, in the House of Lords, on Monday.
Chair of the APPG Andy McNae MP said: “With the [outdoor and nature] sector behind us, we can transform how the whole country enjoys nature for generations to come.”
The report, which gathered views from over 750 organisations and individuals, highlights that much of England’s countryside remains inaccessible.
Outdoors For All: Recommendations for Government on Access to Nature is available, here.
Recommendations include establishing statutory rights to responsible access to more blue spaces for paddlers and other water users.
The report also proposes expanding access rights for paddlers on inland waters through new legislation or amendments to existing acts.
Paddle UK, along with the BMC and The Ramblers, are the secretariat for the APPG.
‘Our freedom to explore nature needs to evolve again’
Ben Seal, Paddle UK’s Head of Access and Environment said:
“With Labour making a commitment to expand responsible rights of access to more green and blue spaces, this report is timely and welcome.
“Our rights of access have evolved over the years to meet the growing demand from people wanting to want to get out and explore the countryside.
“But still, 75 years after the landmark National Parks and Countryside Act, many landscapes, including the majority of rivers and watersides, remain off limits for public enjoyment.
“Our freedom to explore nature needs to evolve again, not only to meet the needs of society today, but to also give people greater confidence to experience nature on their own doorstep.
“It’s great to see the APPG set out such a clear set of recommendations, which if taken forward by the Government, will undoubtedly open up nature to many more people, closer to home.”
Chair of the APPG Andy McNae MP, said:
“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.”
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.
Outdoors For All: Recommendations for Government on Access to Nature is available, here.
Top Picture caption. L to R – Nick Donald (Chair of Paddle UK), Mark Weston (British Horse Society), Stephen Russell (The Ramblers), Dr Catherine Flitcroft (The BMC), Kate Conto (The Ramblers) and Kate Ashbrook (Open Spaces Society)