Half of UK adults say they spend less than three hours a week outside in nature

Almost 90% of UK adults report vivid, positive memories of outdoor play, including feelings of excitement and freedom. Nearly half of adults now spend less than three hours per week in natural settings such as gardens, parks, fields, or woods, and one in 10 spends less than one hour. Childhood outdoor time was much higher, with almost two-thirds reporting they spent more than half their free time outside. Time in nature is linked to physical and mental health benefits, including fewer GP visits and potential NHS savings. Government plans aim to provide green space within a 15-minute walk, but one in five households lack access, especially in deprived areas. Urban parks can support access to nature and community belonging, but park spending has declined as council budgets tighten.

"So it was hard not to be alarmed by the number of people who spend so little time outdoors, but we need to factor in that not everyone has easy access to natural environments. On the flip side, he said, town parks featured strongly in happy childhood memories, and this is incredibly reassuring, as our precious urban green spaces can offer both access to nature and a strong sense of community and belonging. However, spending on parks has plunged in the past decade or so, as council budgets have been stretched."

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