Enjoying the natural environment
Millions of people already enjoy the outdoor environment; as a recreational resource, as a healthy environment in which to live, work, visit, play and explore, as a place of natural beauty and as a source of inspiration. We want to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to use, understand, engage with, and be inspired by the natural environment. We also want an increasing number of people to take action to conserve it.
There are many places where you can enjoy the natural environment, whether you're looking for healthy exercise, the challenge of a long walk, a horse or cycle ride, or whether you want to experience nature, or appreciate its quiet tranquillity and inspiring landscapes. Some might also want to get involved by helping to look after the natural environment.
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The Countryside Code applies to all parts of the countryside. Most of it is just good commonsense, designed to help us all to respect, protect and enjoy our countryside.
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The natural environment offers many places for people to enjoy, whether for local short trips close to home, or for visits to the inspirational landscapes of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We work in partnership with many organisations to provide and manage these places.
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Inspiring people to enjoy and value our natural heritage is fundamental to Natural England's work. While we get great benefits from visits to the local park, nature reserve or wild, open landscape, we can also give something back to the natural environment by what we do and how we do it.
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Natural England has a responsibility to promote access, recreation and public well-being for the benefit of today's and future generations.
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Health and the natural environment
Growing medical evidence shows that access to the natural environment improves health and wellbeing, prevents disease and helps people recover from illness. Experiencing nature in the outdoors can help tackle obesity, coronary heart disease and mental health problems.
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Millions of us get involved with nature every week. We may volunteer at a nature reserve, encourage wildlife in our garden, join a bird watching group, or simply go out walking.
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Natural England collects evidence and undertakes research relating to the places that provide opportunities for enjoying the natural environment. We also survey how people use the natural environment and their attitudes and values.
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Natural England works with user groups, farmers, land managers and public authorities to maintain, develop and promote access.
