New report gives a vital boost to access in England - Open Spaces Society
We have welcomed the new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature. The report, which was launched in parliament on 15 September, contains a comprehensive set of recommendations which will ensure that England’s outdoors becomes more accessible to more people.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has floated the idea of a green paper on access, but so far nothing has appeared. The report will give Defra a head start, with its 40 recommendations, gathered from more than 750 organisations and individuals who responded to the inquiry over the summer.
The main recommendations are:
- 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 to ensure inclusion for all.
- Promoting health and well-being 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, and 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 behaviour. Implement a National Ranger Service, and transform the Ordnance Survey app into a free, universal tool.