Official Statistics

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

Published 14 October 2020

Applies to England

1. Main findings

• Between April and August there has been an increase in adults in England spending time in green and natural spaces. In August, almost half the adult population (45%) say that they are spending more time outside than before COVID-19.
• Eating out/picnicking gained in popularity during August, with one in four (23%) visitors to green and natural spaces undertaking this activity.
• In August, just over a fifth (21%) of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days. Since April, there has been a month-on-month decrease in the proportion of people reporting barriers related to COVID-19 as reasons for not getting outside. In August, bad weather and ‘being too busy’ were cited alongside COVID-19 as key barriers.
• The full results for the monthly interim indicators for April to August 2020 have been published alongside this report.

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 2,079 adult respondents conducted online continuously between 1st–31st August 2020 (inclusive). Throughout this bulletin, “this month” and “August” refers to this period.

A spreadsheet containing the results for the monthly interim indicators for April to August 2020 has been published alongside this report, and previous reports for April to July 2020 can also be viewed.

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

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.

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 August 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 for Statistics (the Code).

4. Time spent in green and natural spaces

During the period 1st–31st August, the proportion of adults in England who had taken a visit to a green and natural space during the previous week was 53%, consistent with previous months (May and June 52% and July 53%). While not directly comparable (see explanation here, this figure is consistent with historical MENE data for August 2018, where 52% of respondents had spent time in green and natural spaces in the past seven days.

Almost half the population (45%) say that they are spending more time outside than before COVID-19. This behaviour has been sustained from June (44%) and July (46%), up from 36% in May (Figure 1). (This question wasn’t asked in April).

Figure 1: Proportion of adults in England (weighted percentage) increasing their time spent on certain activities since coronavirus restrictions began. Almost half the population (45%) say that they are spending more time outside than before COVID-19. Almost a third said they are noticing more nature / wildlife and exercising outside more.

Figure notes Source: CV_Q2A: Since the coronavirus restrictions began, have you increased the amount of time spent on any of the following?
(1) Data collected between August 1st and 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question is 2,079 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%.

Over a third of adults (35%) say that they are visiting local green and natural spaces more than before COVID-19 (the same as July and similar to June (33%) and May (30%)).

Sixty eight percent of adults in England said that they had spent time outside in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days. This is an increase since April (49%).

Just over a fifth (21%) of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days. This is similar to July (23%), June (down from 27%), May (down from 32%) and April (down from 46%).

A total of 11% of adults reported that they had not spent any time in green and natural space in the previous month (down from 14% in July, 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 51% of respondents visiting during the last month. This is similar to July and June (50%) and up from 41% in April. Fields, farmland and countryside, and woodlands and forests (34%) are the second most-visited places (similar to previous months).

Rivers, lakes and canals also remained popular destinations, with 30% of respondents visiting during the last month. The percentage of respondents visiting these blue spaces has gradually increased since April (from 21%). Beaches / coastline / sea have also seen an increase in popularity: over a quarter of adults visited in August (27%), (compared to 15% in April). The proportion of respondents visiting nature and wildlife reserves was 18% in August (up from 13% in April). Refer to Figure 2 for changes over all months from April.

Figure 2: Proportion of adults in England (weighted percentage) visiting different types of green and natural spaces within the last month (August 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 11% between April and August. Note that only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Figure notes Source: M1_Q2: 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 August 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 2,017 (April), 2,015 (May), 2,001 (June), 2,024 (July) and 2,009 (Aug) 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 August, walking continued to be the most popular activity undertaken during a visit to green and natural spaces; with just under three quarters of adults who reported making a visit in the last two weeks undertaking this activity (73%, the same as July). Wildlife-watching continued to be the second most-popular activity with nearly a quarter (23%) of the population wildlife-watching during visits in August (similar to May, June, and July; up from 16% in April). Eating out/picnicking gained in popularity during August, with 23% of visitors to green and natural spaces undertaking this activity (up from 19% in July and only 3% in April). See Figure 3 for how the popularity of different activities has changed across all months since April.

Figure 3: 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 (23%). Eating out / picnicking rose from 3% in April to 23% in August. Note that only a subset of reasons have been presented - see the supporting data for all reasons.

Figure notes Source: M2A_Q8A: Which of these activities, if any, did you do on this specific visit?
(1) Data collected between April 1st and August 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 910 (April), 1,144 (May), 1,225 (June), 1,284 (July) and 1,287 (Aug) 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.

In August 23% of adults reported an increase in time spent connecting with family or friends outdoors since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced. This is similar to July (22%) and a slight increase compared to June (19%) and an increase compared to May (11%). (This question was not asked in April.)

A similar proportion of adults reported playing with children during visits to green and natural spaces in August (16%) compared to July (15%) and there has been a steady increase since May and April (both 9%). Since April, a consistent proportion of adults have reported cycling or running as part of a visit (10-11%), with a small decrease in August (8%). There was an increase in adults reporting playing sports or games during a visit (7%, up from 4% in July).

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%). (This question was not asked in April.)

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. In August, the main reasons reported were ‘staying at home to stop coronavirus spreading and/or related to Government restrictions’ (reported by 30% of those not visiting). There has been a month-on-month decrease in the proportion of people reporting this reason (from 70% in April), see Figure 4. Bad weather is now cited by almost as many people (27% in August). The same proportion (27%) cited being too busy (work, home or family commitments). Twenty two percent cited health reasons (14% poor physical health or illness and 8% poor mental health or well-being).

Figure 4: The main reason(s) for not spending free time outdoors in the last 14 days (August 2020) by proportion of adults in England. ‘Stayed at home to stop coronavirus spreading / Government restrictions’ was the main reason cited by 30% 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: M2B_Q2: 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 August 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 958 (April), 754 (May), 647 (June), 605 (July) and 569 (Aug) 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.

Adults who had not visited a green and natural space in the last 14 days, were also asked about their worries or concerns related to visiting green and natural spaces. As for previous months, ‘Contracting or spreading coronavirus’ was the main concern (34%), however this is a decrease from July (43%) and a large decrease compared to April (57%). Other highly cited concerns, anti-social behaviour (24%), lack of facilities (24%) and ‘visiting after dark’ (19%) have remained fairly consistent since June.

The proportion of respondents who are not leaving home at all (from those who had not visited a green and natural space in the last 14 days) has continued to decrease from 22% in July to 18% in August (27% in May - this question was not asked in April). The proportion of people concerned about over-crowding and not being able to keep their distance from people has also continued to decrease (28%, down from 37% in July and 39% in May and June - this question was not asked in April).

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

The large majority of adults in England (89%) agreed that green and natural spaces should be good places for mental health and wellbeing and places that encourage physical health and exercise (83%). This has been largely consistent since April.

9. Feelings of nature connection

In August, the vast majority of adults (83%) agreed that ‘being in nature makes me very happy’ and 61% reported that they ‘feel part of nature’. These figures are consistent with previous months.

Seventy percent are taking more time to notice and engage with everyday nature, such as listening to birdsong or noticing butterflies, a small decrease from previous months.

In August, 39% of adults reported that ‘nature and wildlife is more important than ever to my wellbeing’, a slight decrease from July (42%), but consistent with May and June (this question was not asked in April).

Forty four percent reported that visiting local green and natural spaces has been even more important to their wellbeing since coronavirus restrictions began. This is largely consistent with previous months (slight increase from May at 41%).

10. Importance of gardens

Of those respondents with gardens, the vast majority (88%) believe that they are important or very important (largely consistent with all previous months).

11. Behaviour changes during the Coronavirus pandemic

Since May there has been a gradual but consistent decrease in respondents reporting that they have reduced the amount that they drive or travel by car since coronavirus restrictions were introduced (61% in August, down from 72% in May).

Thirty five per cent of adults reported that they have reduced the amount of food their household throws away, largely consistent with July (37%), but a decrease from 40% in May.

12. Children’s time in nature

Fewer adults are worried that their child is spending too much time indoors (29%) compared to July (37%).

There has been a slight decrease in the proportion of adults who wish that their child could spend more time outside in nature to support their mental health (28%, down from 34% in July). However, this proportion is similar to May (29%). The proportion of adults who wish that their child could spend more time outside in nature to support their physical health is consistent with July (both 32%, down from 38% in May).

The majority of adults with children (84%) reported that their child was getting outside to spend time in green and natural spaces on average once a week or more (largely consistent with previous months). Seventeen per cent reported children getting outside every day, consistent with July (16%). Ten percent reported children spending time in green and natural spaces less than once a month or never (largely consistent with previous months).

A quarter of adults with children (25%) think that learning outside or about nature is especially important for their child at this time, largely consistent with July (28%) and up from 19% in June and May.

It is important to note that there is uncertainty around these results due to the small sample size for these questions (262).

13. Methodological note

See ‘Methods and limitations’ page.

14. Strengths and Limitations

See ‘Methods and limitations’ page.

15. Glossary

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

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).

16. Contact

Natural England welcomes feedback on these monthly indicators, questions and suggestions for analysis for future releases. Please contact the team by email: people_and_nature@naturalengland.org.uk

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).

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.