Outdoor nature-based recreation, health and climate change

Outdoor nature-based recreation and connection with nature have been shown to provide or be linked to many benefits for people’s health and wellbeing. There is an increased understanding and awareness of the value of natural environments for people’s wellbeing and a strong focus on encouraging people outdoors for their physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

However, changes in the climate bring potential increases in intensity of rainfall, heat, drought, fire, and wind and have the potential to impact outdoor nature-based recreation both positively and negatively in the United Kingdom.

For example, there could be increased visits to forests during heatwaves to keep cool or fewer visits for outdoor recreation with increased intensive rainfall or storms. In this research we aim to better understand the impact that climate change may have on outdoor nature-based recreation in terms of changing recreation patterns and behaviours. We want to explore the potential impact of these changes on people’s health and wellbeing and on land managers who may need to change some of their management practices due to climate change.