Press Release

13 December 2023

OIA welcomesOutdoors For Allmanifesto

The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) is delighted to announce the release of "Outdoors For All," a collaborative manifesto by the OIA and 35 other national governing bodies and environmental organizations. This initiative advocates for the expansion of responsible access to green and blue spaces across the United Kingdom.

Presently, the UK ranks the lowest among 14 European nations in terms of connectedness to nature and stands at 11th out of 15 in levels of physical activity. Notably, nations with higher rankings provide their citizens with greater freedom to enjoy outdoor spaces. In response to this, the Outdoors For All coalition is urging the introduction of new legislation to open up more of the UK's countryside, encompassing waterways, woodlands, riversides, and downlands for public enjoyment.

The manifesto specifically calls for new legislation to make the government's commitment to ensuring that everyone lives within a 15-minute walk of an accessible green or blue space a legally binding target. It further advocates for the extension of public open access rights to diverse landscapes and the establishment of an Access to Nature Investment Strategy. This strategy aims to direct resources to both rural and urban areas.

When effectively implemented, these provisions have the potential to create opportunities for people to engage in various outdoor activities such as cycling, walking, climbing, horse riding, caving, swimming, flying, and paddling. These activities can be enjoyed responsibly by all, supported by a culture that addresses barriers to access for everyone.

OIA Chief Executive Andrew Denton said, "The OIA are delighted to support this document, with many of the proposals and recommendations in this document aligning perfectly with our long-held vision to "Get More People Active Outdoors" and its partner consumer campaign "Get Outside". We look forward to all political parties responding to this call for legislative action, and to hearing proposals in their own 2024 manifestos for ways of linking the outdoors to better health and many other positive outcomes for people in the UK".

The manifesto document can be accessed via the OIA website.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Dan Garbutt:dan.garbutt@theoia.co.uk

General Enquiries: info@theoia.co.uk

Web: www.theoia.co.uk

Tel: 0161 498 6159

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Outdoor Industries Association

The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) CIC is a non-profit membership organisation that provides advocacy, representation, promotion, leadership and the opportunity for the outdoor recreational industries, to unite with a single common voice. It represents over 200 member organisations that provide products and services for the Outdoor Recreation industry, retailers that sell those products and services, NGO's, NGBs and other organisations which operate in the UK Outdoor Recreation sector. The OIA's mission is to ‘Engage, Represent and Promote the Outdoor Recreation Industries' with a long term vision to ‘Get More People Active Outdoors'.