Written question asked by Andy MacNae (Labour) on Monday, 20 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 October 2025. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Countryside: Access

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature's report entitled, Outdoors For All.

Answer: The Government welcomes the All Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature's report and agrees with the report’s conclusion that time spent outdoors is vital for both physical and mental wellbeing. We are committed to expanding opportunities for people to connect with nature. Our current initiatives include the creation of nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, helping to bring nature closer to communities across the country. We are actively shaping policy to support wider access to nature, working in collaboration with other departments and key delivery partners.

Secondary information