The OIA is asking for help from the outdoor sector and others to share ideas on how to improve access to nature, so that more people (especially children, young people, and underrepresented groups) can enjoy green and blue spaces for their health and wellbeing. Individuals, organisations, charities, landowners, and experts can get involved by submitting written evidence to the parliamentary inquiry by 20th July 2025. Find out more below:
OIA Supporting Parliamentary Group on Access to Nature Inquiry
We need the Outdoor sector’s support
As part of the Government’s manifesto commitment to improve access to nature, the newly established All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation & Access to Nature has launched a call for evidence to examine ideas for changes in policy and legislation that would enable more people to access green and blue spaces. The OIA is pleased to support the APPG in its key aims, which include legislation or policy proposals to enable more people to make use of existing outdoor opportunities, and to ensure green and blue spaces are more evenly distributed and access to nature is better used to support health and wellbeing outcomes.
Andrew Denton, OIA CEO, said, “One of the primary objectives of the OIA is to get more people more active outdoors, with the firm belief that if we can do that, the lives and health of people in Great Britain can be fundamentally changed. I would encourage our sector and beyond, to submit their evidence to the inquiry, so that we can do as much as possible to steer the direction of future policy.”
As the APPG Secretariat, the British Mountaineering Council, Paddle UK and the Ramblers are supporting the setting up of the inquiry, all of whom are close partners of the OIA and previous speakers at our conference.
The call for written evidence can be accessed here – the deadline for submissions is midnight, 20th July 2025.
Contributions are welcome from individuals, academics, think tanks, charities, advocacy groups and other stakeholders with perspectives relevant to the lines of inquiry. The APPG is particularly interested in hearing from:
- Organisations representing a diverse range of outdoor users.
- Access policy experts.
- Organisations working with children and young people.
- Organisations working with people from minority backgrounds, low-income households and those living with disabilities and/ or ill health.
- Land managers and owners with experience of people accessing land for outdoor recreation.
The evidence gathering for the inquiry is being facilitated by the APPG secretariat and the final report will be being produced with support from an external agency.
Scope and lines of inquiry
The APPG is interested in receiving ideas for new legislation and / or policy proposals which would:
1. Enable more people to make use of existing access opportunities (including open access and public rights of way).
2. Improve access to landscapes (woodlands, riversides, water bodies, downland) and the safeguards needed for the environment and land management.
3. Enable more people to undertake a broader range of responsible outdoor activities and the safeguards needed for the environment and land management.
4. Ensure green and blue spaces are more evenly distributed and better connected.
5. Ensure access to nature is better used to support health and wellbeing outcomes.
6. Increase access to sites of public or historic interest
7. Enable more people, particularly children, young people and underrepresented groups, to regularly experience and engage with green and blue spaces.
All of the information related to the inquiry and how the evidence will be used can be found via the link. Please do share with others who you feel may be interested in responding.