outdoors-participation-report-v2

Outdoors Participant
Profile
40%
35%
30%
25%
Explorer
Adventurer
Fitness in Nature
Thrill Seeker
Where
This section covers the type of environment participants access (such as countryside,
urban, seaside and river/canal) as well as travelling preferences and geographical spread.
Middle aged, white middle class, visit the countryside.
Young people and under represented groups visit towns/cities
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Urban Town/fringe Rural
(in town or city) (countryside)
Seaside
River/canal
Challenger
Freestyler
Tribe Member
Learner
• 44% participate in the countryside. These
participants are more likely to be white;
higher social grade; over 45 years.
• 25% participate in town/city. These
participants are more likely to be from
BME communities; lower social grades;
16-24 years.
• However, MENE (2013/14) data suggests
a possible trend for decreased visits to
countryside destinations and increase visit
levels to destinations in towns and cities.
• ‘Informal leisure’ visits are the main driver
of canal visits, in particular walking, running
and cycling. (Canal and River Trust, 2014).
• Highest user of canals and rivers are
35-44 years and 65 years plus (Canal and
River Trust, 2014).
• An estimated 7% of urban park-users in
England go there for sporting activities
(approx. 7.5m visitors per year).
• Explorers, particularly old age group
are more likely to participate in the
countryside and at the seaside.
• Challengers are more likely to
participate in towns/cities.
• Participants who BMX; parkour;
go to outdoors fitness classes/boot
camps are also more likely
to participate in town/city.
• Participants who hill walk/ramble;
mountaineer; orienteer and do
assault courses are more likely to
participate in the countryside.
“In which of the following places have you undertaken your main outdoor activity during the last 12 months?”
Outdoor Participation Survey 2014
Local, good quality infrastructure
is an important influencing factor
• MENE results (2013/14) show that the number of visits made to the natural
environment for health and exercise in the last week is connected to the
relationship between the amount of local greenspace and levels of physical
activity, irrespective of where the physical activity takes place.
• When people have good access to greenspace (perceived and/or actual) they
are 24% more likely to be physically active (Natural England, 2012).
• BME & urban population group participants tend to participate nearer to
home, in more urban locations. However people from BME and deprived
communities tend to have less local green space and it is of a poorer quality.
• Fitness in Nature are most likely to participate from their doorstep.
• 65% of current participants do activities over 10 miles from home.
Thrill Seekers and Challengers are most likely to travel. Explorers and
Adventurers are most likely to participate whilst on holiday.
• However 65% of those who are interested in participating outdoors or just
starting out are more likely to participate less than 2 miles from home.
64 65