Forty Two national governing bodies and environmental organisations joined together at a parliamentary event to celebrate the Outdoors For All manifesto.
The event was held at the Houses of Parliament and sponsored by Tracey Crouch MP and Kim Leadbeater MP.
Both the Secretary of State RT Hon Steve Barclay and Shadow Minister for Nature & Rural Affairs Toby Perkins MP, spoke at the event.
In his speech, Mr Barclay said it is of “great value” and the “right thing to do” for people to spend more time outdoors to stay healthy.
He said the government is looking at “more permissive access” where landowners are incentivised “to open up their land and waterways”.
Mr Perkins, who is the Labour MP for Chesterfield, said the manifesto was “important” and the passion of every organisation will “drive the agenda on”.
During his speech, he said the Labour Party would make sure we all have a right to “responsible access to nature and people from every background can enjoy to the full.”
He added that the Environment Land Management scheme was “vitally important” in helping farmers be part of helping people to responsibly access nature.
‘Collective voice’
Mr Perkins said Labour shared the government's aim of ensuring the public lives within a 15-minute walk of woodlands, wetlands, parks and rivers.
However, he added about 20 million people currently don't have that access.
Ben Seal, head of access and environment at British Canoeing, said time spent outdoors, in green and blue spaces, is “precious for physical and mental wellbeing”.
He said: “[The 42 organisations] came together to create Outdoors for All. We represent millions of members of the public. This is our sector speaking with a collective voice.”
Ms Leadbeater, is the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, and the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sport.
She said Outdoor for All was “everything she believes in” and sport and recreation was “always the answer”.
In her speech she said we have a duty, together to tackle health issues, build better communities and combat loneliness.
Ms Leadbeater shares her passion for sport with Tracey Crouch, MP for Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford.
Ms Crouch said “access is really important” and time outdoors exercising helped her through her cancer journey.
She added the Outdoors For All alliance “totally works” in delivering a single message.
“We need to get out there and [find] those people who are from hard to reach communities and low income groups, something I'm passionate about.”