Official Statistics

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

Updated 23 March 2021

Applies to England

1. Main findings

• In October, almost two thirds of the adult population (62%) had visited a green and natural space in the last 14 days. Forty two per cent of adults said visiting green and natural spaces has been even more important to their wellbeing since coronavirus.
• A quarter (25%) of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days. Thirteen per cent of adults in England had not visited any green and natural space in the previous month.
• In October, bad / poor weather was the top reason reported for not spending time in nature, (reported by 41% of those not visiting). Twenty nine per cent reported that staying at home to stop coronavirus spreading / Government restrictions was the main reason for not visiting (consistent with August and September).
• The full results for the monthly interim indicators for April to October 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 experimental statistics in this publication are based on a survey of 2,082 adult respondents conducted online continuously between 1st–31st October 2020 (inclusive). Throughout this bulletin, “this month” and “October” refers to this period.

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

Further information about the People and Nature Survey for England (including information on methods, strengths and limitations, and Experimental Statistics status) is available. To receive updates on the survey, including data releases and publications, sign-up via the People and Nature User Hub.

Results from this survey 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

Figure 1 shows the proportion of adults in England who had taken a visit to a green and natural space during the previous fortnight.

Sixty two per cent of adults in England said that they had spent time outside in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days. This has decreased in comparison to September (70%). A quarter (25%) of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days, up from 20% in September.

Figure 1: The proportion of adults in England (weighted percentage) visiting green and natural spaces since coronavirus restrictions has overall increased since April 2020. However, there was a decrease from September to October. In October, six out of ten adults made a visit to a green and natural space in the previous 14 days. Twenty five per cent of adults had not visited a green and natural space in the previous 14 days.

Figure notes Source: Q6 / No_Of_Visits: How many times, if at all, did you make this type of visit to green and natural spaces in the last 14 days?
(1) Data collected between April 1st and October 31st (inclusive).
(2) The samples for this question were 1,868 (April), 1,898 (May), 1,872 (June), 1,889 (July), 1,856 (August), 1,866 (September) and 1,854 (October) respondents.
(3) Error bars represent the 95% confidence interval of the mean (see Glossary).

Over two fifths of the adult population (42%) said that they were spending more time outside than before COVID-19 (Figure 2). Almost a third of adults (29%) reported that they had spent more time noticing nature / wildlife.

Figure 2: Since coronavirus restrictions began, reported increases in time spent being outside, exercising outdoors and noticing nature / wildlife have remained consistent for adults in England (weighted percentage). In October, two fifths of the population (42%) said that they were spending more time outside than before COVID-19 and almost a third (29%) said they were noticing nature / wildlife more. Almost a quarter (23%) of adults were connecting more with family and friends outdoors while 28% of adults were exercising more outdoors.

Figure notes Source: QCV2a / CV_Q2A: Since the coronavirus restrictions began, have you increased the amount of time spent on any of the following?
(1) Data collected between May 1st and October 31st (inclusive).
(2) The samples for this question were 2,083 (May), 2,083 (June), 2,087 (July), 2,079 (August), 2,082 (September) and 2,082 (October) 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%.

A total of 13% of adults reported that they had not spent any time in green and natural space in the previous month (Figure 3).

Urban green spaces were the most visited of all green and natural spaces, with 50% of respondents visiting during the last month. Almost a third of adults in England reported visiting the countryside (32%), woods (33%), rivers, lakes and canals (28%) or beaches (27%) in the previous month.

Figure 3: Proportion of adults in England (weighted percentage) visiting different types of green and natural spaces within the last month (April – October 2020). Urban green spaces have been the most frequently visited across all months. The proportion of people not making a visit in the last month has dropped from 26% in April 13% in October. Note that only a subset of types of green and natural spaces have been presented - see the supporting data for all types of green and natural spaces visited during the last month.

Figure notes Source: Q2 / 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 October 31st (inclusive).
(2) The samples for this question were 2,017 (April), 2,015 (May), 2,001 (June), 2,024 (July), 2,009 (August), 2,021 (September) and 2,021 (October) 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.

Adults who had not spent time in green and natural places during the previous 14 days were asked about their reasons. In October, the main reason reported was ‘Bad / poor weather’ (reported by 41% of those not visiting). There has been a month-on-month decrease in the proportion of people reporting ‘Stayed at home to stop coronavirus spreading / Government restrictions’ (from 70% in April to 29% in October), see Figure 4. Other main reasons for not spending time in green and natural places were: being too busy at home (17%) or at work / family commitments (16%), or; poor physical health or illness (10%).

Figure 4: The main reason for not spending free time outdoors in the last 14 days (October 2020) by proportion of adults in England was ‘Bad / poor weather, which was cited by 41% of respondents (up from 6% in April). The second most common reason was Stayed at home to stop coronavirus spreading / Government restrictions, which was cited by almost a third (29%) 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: Q27a / 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 October 31st (inclusive).
(2) The sample for this question were 958 (April), 754 (May), 647 (June), 605 (July), 569 (August), 567 (September) and 676 (October) 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.

5. Other results

The accompanying spreadsheet includes monthly results for a number of areas including:

• Activities undertaken during a visit to green and natural spaces;
• Reasons for not spending time outside;
• Worries or concerns related to visiting green and natural spaces;
• The role of green and natural spaces for health and wellbeing;
• Feelings of nature connection;
• Importance of gardens;
• Behaviour changes during the Coronavirus pandemic;
• Children’s time in nature.

6. Methodological note

See ‘Methods and limitations’ page.

7. Strengths and Limitations

See ‘Methods and limitations’ page.

8. 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. Additional questions are asked about private gardens.

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).

9. 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.

10. Pre-release access

Pre-release access was not sought for this release

11. 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.

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.