Official Statistics

The People and Nature Survey for England: Monthly interim indicators for July 2020 (Experimental Statistics)

Updated 23 March 2021

Applies to England

1. Main findings

• In July, the majority of adults in England reported spending time in green and natural spaces, at highest levels since COVID-19. A significant minority reported not visiting green and natural spaces at all, with coronavirus concerns remaining the main reason.
• During the period 1st–31st July, 67% of adults in England said that they had spent time outside in green and natural spaces in the previous two weeks. There is a sustained month-on-month increase since April (June 65%, May 60% and April 49%).
• Almost half the population (46%) say that they are spending more time outside than before COVID-19 (up from 44% in June and 26% in May). Fort two per cent of adults reported that ‘nature and wildlife is more important than ever to my wellbeing’; 35% reported visiting local green and natural spaces more often.
• Just under a quarter (23%) of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous two weeks. When these adults were asked about their worries and concerns related to visiting green and natural spaces, 43% were worried about contracting or spreading coronavirus while visiting green and natural spaces and 26% were concerned about breaking coronavirus restrictions.
• Urban green spaces continue to be the most popular type of green space visited, with 50% of adults reporting a visit in the last month. One in four (24%) of adults reported a visit to the seaside in July.
• There has been an increase in the percentage of adults who think that learning outside or about nature is especially important for their child at this time (28% of adults with children, up from 19% in June and May).
• Nearly half of adults with children believe their child seems happier when they have spent time outside (46%, up from 36% in June and 40% in May).

The full results for July, as well as April, May and June, are available to download. Previous publications are also available to view.

To receive updates on the survey, including data releases and publications, sign-up via the People and Nature User Hub.

2. Other pages in this release

The People and Nature Survey for England, led by Natural England, is one of the main sources of data and statistics on how people experience and think about the environment. It began collecting data via an online panel (adults aged 16 years and older) in April 2020, and runs continuously, in line with Government Statistical Service guidance on data collection during the COVID-19 crisis. The People and Nature Survey tells us about how COVID-19 is impacting people’s experience of green and natural spaces, how this is associated with physical and mental health, as well as how people’s attitudes to nature and behaviours are changing at this time. Data and insights from the People and Nature Survey will provide important evidence on impacts to support response and recovery, both under current restrictions and as requirements to stay at home ease.

The experimental statistics in this publication are based on a survey of 2,087 adult respondents conducted online continuously between 1st–31st July 2020 (inclusive). Throughout this bulletin, “this month” and “July” refers to this period.

Green and natural spaces are defined in this survey as green and blue spaces in towns and cities (e.g. parks, canals); the countryside (e.g. farmland, woodland, hills and rivers); the coast (e.g. beaches, cliffs) and activities in the open sea; visits of any duration (including short trips to the park, dog walking etc.). They do not include: gardens; outside spaces visited as part of someone’s employment; spaces outside the UK.

Additional questions are asked about private gardens.

Subsequent reporting of monthly interim indicators and quarterly results from the People and Nature Survey respondent dataset will be able to determine changes and trends in the types of green and natural space used and equality of access to those spaces as the COVID-19 restrictions change over time.

Further information about the People and Nature Survey for England (including information on methods, strengths and limitations, and Experimental Statistics status) is available.

Data for this survey were collected between 1st and 31st July 2020. Results from this survey therefore cover a period where restrictions on movement had been eased but some restrictions remained. This page summarises the latest advice on accessing green spaces safely.

3. Experimental statistics

All initial releases from the People and Nature survey will be released as Experimental Statistics. This status highlights to users that these Official Statistics are in the National Statistics testing phase and that Natural England is still working on further developing the methodologies used in their production whilst ensuring adherence to the Code of Practice (the Code).

4. Time spent in green and natural spaces

During the period 1st - 31st July, the proportion adults in England who had taken a visit to a green and natural space during the previous week was 53%, consistent with May and June (52%). While not directly comparable, this figure is consistent with historical MENE data for July 2018, where 57% had spent time in green and natural spaces in the past seven days. It is also consistent with the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Opinions and Lifestyles Survey^{[footnote 1]} which found that between 2nd and 5th July 52% of British adults had visited a park or public green space in the past week. This number dropped to 34% for those reporting any specific health condition^{[footnote 2]}.

Almost half the population (46%) say that they are spending more time outside than before COVID-19 (up from 44% in June and 26% in May).

Over a third of adults (35%) say that they are visiting local green and natural spaces more than before COVID-19 (up from 33% in June and 30% in May).

Sixty seven percent of adults in England said that they had spent time outside in green and natural spaces in the previous two weeks. There is a sustained month-on-month increase since the launch of the survey in April (June 65%, May 60% and April 49%).

Just under a quarter (23%) of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous two weeks. This is a decrease in comparison to June (down from 27%), May (down from 32%) and April (down from 46%).

A total of 14% of adults reported that they had not spent any time in green and natural space in the previous month (down from 16% in June, 22% in May and 26% in April).

5. Types of green and natural spaces visited in the last month

Urban green space continued to be the most visited of all green and natural spaces in July, with 50% of respondents visiting during the last month (Figure 1). This is the same as in June. Fields, farmland and countryside (34%) overtook woodlands and forests (32%) as the second most-visited (both types of place were visited by 31% of respondents in June).

Rivers, lakes and canals were also popular destinations with 29% of respondents visiting during the last month (largely consistent with June (28%)). In July, 24% of adults reported visiting a beach / coastline or sea (up from 19% in June). There was also an increase in visits to nature and wildlife reserves (18% up from 15% in June) and a small increase in visits to hills, mountains or moorland (11% up from 9% in June).

Figure 1: Proportion of adults in England (weighted percentage) visiting different types of green and natural spaces within the last month (July 2020). Urban green spaces are still the most frequently visited. The proportion of people not making a visit in the last month has dropped from 26% to 14% between April and July. Note that only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Figure notes Source: Which of the following type(s) of green and natural spaces have you visited during the last month?
(1) Data collected between April 1st and July 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 2,017 (April), 2,015 (May), 2,001 (June) and 2,024 (July) respondents.
(3) Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval of the mean (see Glossary).
(4) Respondents can select more than one option and so percentages will not add up to 100%.
(5) Only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

6. Activities undertaken in green and natural spaces

In July, walking continued to be the most popular activity undertaken during a visit to green and natural spaces (Figure 2); with just under three quarters of adults who reported making a visit in the last two weeks undertaking this activity (73% down from 75% in June). Wildlife-watching continued to be the second most-popular activity with nearly a quarter (24%) of the population wildlife-watching during visits in July (23% in June and May and 16% in April). Eating out/picnicking remained the third most-popular activity in July (19%, up from 15% in June, 8% in May and 3% in April). Twenty two percent of adults report an increase in time spent connecting with family or friends outdoors since COVID-19 (up from 19% in June and 11% in May).

There was a small increase in the percentage of adults who reported playing with children during visits to green and natural spaces in July (15%) compared to June (13%) and May and April (both 9%). There was also an increase in the percentage of adults reporting that they had appreciated scenery from a car (7%, up from 4% in June, 2% in May and 1% in April).

There was a small decrease in those reporting playing sports or games during a visit (4%, down from 6% in June). Nearly a third of adults (32%) report that they have increased the amount of time they exercise outdoors since COVID-19 and this has remained fairly constant since May (29%) and June (32%).

Figure 2: The main activities undertaken on the visit by proportion of adults in England. Walking continues to the most popular activity undertaken (73%) with wildlife-watching the second most popular (24%). Eating out / picnicking rose from 8% in April to 19% in July. Note that only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Figure notes Source: Which of these activities, if any, did you do on this specific visit?
(1) Data collected between April 1st and July 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 910 (April), 1,144 (May), 1,225 (June) and 1,284 (July) respondents.
(3) Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval of the mean (see Glossary).
(4) Respondents can select more than one option and so percentages will not add up to 100%.
(5) Only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Recent research from Women in Sport^{[footnote 3]} has shown that women have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown, especially those with children who are juggling home-life, work, and schooling, as well as women aged 70 plus. They found that:

• 39% of women said that losing their fitness would have a long-term impact.
• 25% of women were worried that getting back into the habit of exercise post lockdown would be hard.
• 32% of women couldn’t prioritise doing exercise during lockdown as they had too much to do for others.

7. Reasons for not spending time outside

Adults who had not spent time in green and natural places during the previous 14 days were asked about their reasons (Figure 3). In July, the main reasons reported were staying at home to stop coronavirus spreading and/or related to Government restrictions (reported by 43% of those not visiting, down from 53% in June, 63% in May and 70% in April) and bad weather (reported by 31%, up from 17% in June, 7% in May and 6% in April). Fifteen percent reported that they were too busy at home, 11% said they were too busy at work or with family commitments, and 11% reported poor physical health/illness prevented them from spending their free time outdoors.

Figure 3: The main reason(s) for not spending free time outdoors in the last 14 days (July 2020) by proportion of adults in England. ‘Stayed at home to stop coronavirus spreading / Government restrictions’ was the main reason cited by 43% of respondents (down from 70% in April). Note that only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Figure notes Source: What was the main reason or reasons for not spending free time outdoors in the last 14 days?
(1) Data collected between April 1st and July 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 958 (April), 754 (May), 647 (June) and 605 (July) respondents who reported not spending time outdoors in the last 14 days.
(3) Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval of the mean (see Glossary).
(4) Respondents can select more than one option and so percentages will not add up to 100%.
(5) Only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Concerns about over-crowding and not being able to keep a safe distance from others was cited as a reason for not spending time outside by 37% of adults who hadn’t visited a green and natural space in the last 14 days. There has been a decrease in those citing concerns about breaking coronavirus restrictions (26%, down from 31% in June).

The same adults were asked about their worries and concerns related to visiting green and natural spaces. Nearly half (43%) of those not getting out were worried about contracting or spreading coronavirus whilst on a visit (down from 45% in June). A quarter were worried about anti-social behaviour (26% in June). There was a slight increase in the percentage of people worried about encountering poorly maintained sites (12%, up from 9% in June).

8. The role of green and natural spaces for health and wellbeing

The large majority of adults in England (91%) agreed that green and natural spaces should be good places for mental health and wellbeing (89% in June) and places that encourage physical health and exercise (84%, consistent with June 82%).

9. Feelings of nature connection

In July, the vast majority of adults (85%) agreed that ‘being in nature makes me happy’, 73% are taking more time to notice and engage with everyday nature, such as listening to birdsong or noticing butterflies, and 62% reported that they ‘feel part of nature’. These figures are all consistent with previous months.

In July, 42% of adults reported that ‘nature and wildlife is more important than ever to my wellbeing’ (40% June and 41% in May); 45% reported visiting local green and natural spaces has been even more important to their wellbeing (43% in June and 41% in May).

10. Importance of a garden

Of those respondents with gardens, the vast majority (89%) believe that they are important or very important (largely consistent with all previous months).

The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Opinions and Lifestyles Survey^{[footnote 1]} found that between 2nd and 5th July, of those that said they have a garden (89%), 89% had spent time in it in the last 7 days. Fort two per cent of adults in Britain reported spending time in their garden in the last 7 days with friends or family members who live outside their household.

11. Behaviour changes during the Coronavirus pandemic

In July, there was a small decrease in those reporting that they have reduced the amount that they drive or travel by car since coronavirus restrictions were introduced (64% down from 67% in June and 72% in May).

Thirty seven per cent of adults reported that they have reduced the amount of food their household throws away, consistent with June and slightly down from 40% in May.

Recent research by WRAP^{[footnote 5]} found that UK citizens responded to the COVID-19 lockdown with a wide range of positive food management strategies to reduce food waste. As lockdown continued these positive food management behaviours endured and were even extended. Despite this, levels of reported food waste have begun to rebound, with the average level of waste across four key products (bread, milk, potatoes and chicken) currently at 18%, up from 14% in April. However, these levels remain significantly below the levels seen pre-lockdown, for example 24% in November 2019.

12. Children’s time in nature

The majority of adults with children (82%) reported that their child was getting outside to spend time in green and natural spaces on average once a week or more (consistent with June (84%)). Sixteen per cent reported children getting outside every day, up from June (10%) but down from May (19%) and April (20%).

Seven per cent reported children spending time in green and natural spaces less than once a month to never (consistent with previous months).

Over a quarter of adults with children (28%) think that learning outside or about nature is especially important for their child at this time, up from 19% in June and May.

Forty six percent believe their child seems happier when they have spent time outside (up from 36% in June and 40% in May).

Fewer adults think the streets are safer for children now (13% down from 17% in June and May).

Approximately a third of adults with children wish their children could spend more time outside in nature to support their physical (32%) and mental (34%) health; consistent with previous months.

Although, it is important to note that there is uncertainty around this result due to the small sample size for this question (278).

13. Methodological notes

See ‘Methods and limitations’ page.

14. Strengths and Limitations

See ‘Methods and limitations’ page.

15. Glossary

95% confidence interval is a range of values around a calculated statistic (e.g. the mean) that you are 95% certain contains the true value of that statistic. For example, where there is a mean value of 49 with a 95% confidence interval of 2, we would be 95% certain that the true mean of the population was in the range of 47-51 (i.e. 49 -2 and 49 + 2).

Green and natural spaces are defined in this survey as green and blue spaces in towns and cities (e.g. parks, canals); the countryside (e.g. farmland, woodland, hills and rivers); the coast (e.g. beaches, cliffs) and activities in the open sea; visits of any duration (including short trips to the park, dog walking etc.). They do not include: gardens; outside spaces visited as part of someone’s employment; spaces outside the UK.

Nature connectedness - a measurable psychological construct that describes a person’s relationship with the natural world. It includes aspects related to a person’s affective (emotional) and cognitive relationship to nature and their sense of place in nature. The 6 Nature Connection Index scale items are:

• I always find beauty in nature
• I always treat nature with respect
• Being in nature makes me very happy
• Spending time in nature is very important to me
• I find being in nature really amazing
• I feel part of nature

16. Contact

Natural England welcomes feedback on these monthly indicators, questions and suggestions for analysis for future releases. Please contact the team by email: [email protected]

If you would like to receive further information on the survey, including data releases, publications and survey changes, then visit our User Hub and sign-up to the mailing list at the bottom of the page (best viewed in Google Chrome). After signing up, if you do not receive a confirmation email please check your ‘Junk’ or ‘Spam’ folder.

The Senior Responsible Officer for this publication is Dr Rose O’Neill.

17. Pre-release access

Pre-release access was not sought for this release

18. Related links

Coronavirus – guidance on accessing green spaces safely: Latest government guidance on using green spaces and protecting yourself and others.

Natural England operational update: Coronovirus information on how Natural England is facing the challenges posed by Coronavirus.

People and Nature questionnaire: Includes link to People and Nature Survey questions.

People and Nature Survey information: Further information on the People and Nature Survey for England.

Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment: Further information on the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) Survey (predecessor to the People and Nature Survey).

Office for National Statistics ‘Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain Statistical bulletins’ Series of survey reports by the Office for National Statistics on the social impacts of coronavirus in Great Britain.

Office for National Statistics analysis of access to greenspace during coronavirus: Office for National Statistics report on access to greenspace, including gardens, during coronavirus (uses MENE data).

A summary report on nature connectedness among adults and children in England Includes analyses of relationships with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours (uses MENE data).

Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer public places - urban centres and green spaces: Guidance for the owners and operators of urban centres and green spaces to help social distancing.

The Countryside Code Statutory guidance on respecting, protecting and enjoying the outdoors.

Lockdown Research: Implications for Women’s Participation is a research report by Women in Sport which followed a group of women for a month to look in-depth at how their lives were affected, alongside running a representative survey of 100 women from across the UK.

1. Coronavirus and the Societal Impacts on Great Britain (2020): released 10 July 2020. ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (COVID-19 module), 2 to 5 July. Dataset available from:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/datasets/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbritaindata/current. Accessed: 19/08/2020. Sample size 1,780. ↩ ↩²

2. An underlying health condition is defined by the ONS as a chronic or long-term illness that can cause the individual to be more at risk of initial infection and in fighting the infection. ↩

3. “Lockdown Research: Implications for Women’s Participation” June 30 2020. https://www.womeninsport.org/press-release/lockdown/ accessed 19.08.20. Women in Sport followed a group of women for a month to look in-depth at how their lives were affected, alongside running a representative survey of 100 women from across the UK. ↩

4. ‘Food waste and Covid-19 - Survey 2: Lockdown easing’ WRAP July 2020. https://wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Food-waste-and-Covid-9-Survey-2-Lockdown-easing.pdf Accessed: 19.08.20. ↩