The Shadow Sports Minister, Stephanie Peacock, said Labour is “committed to expanding access to sport and nature rich habitats”.
Ms Peacock, who represents Barnsley East and has held the Shadow Minister for Sport brief since 2022 took a break from her campaigning to try canoeing at Manvers Waterfront Boat Club in South Yorkshire.
It was the first time she had been canoeing and she expressed a keenness to return again in future to try paddleboarding.
She said:
“Access to blue spaces and physical activity can have an immensely positive impact on both individuals and wider society…
“…but inactivity levels remain too high and our country's natural beauty has been severely depleted.
“That is why I am proud that Labour has committed to expanding access to sport, as well as creating nine new National River Walks, and expanding nature-rich habitats such as wetlands, peat bogs and forests so families can get active and wildlife can thrive.”
While the Labour manifesto failed to set out any specific commitments around expanding access to more blue spaces, Shadow Minister for Nature & Rural Affairs, Toby Perkins said back in March:
“On extending access rights to more landscapes, be they up hill, down dale, into rivers, into woods; Labour will ensure that people will have a right to responsible access to nature which they can enjoy to the full.
“People from every background should have nature and greenery around them, with access to parks and rivers and wildlife and the opportunity to enjoy the great British countryside.”
‘Responsible access' has been a theme for the Labour Shadow Defra team during their campaigning.
On several occasions members of the Shadow team have suggested that they would be willing to look at access reform, as long as a balance can be found between users of the countryside and the custodians.
Paddle UK's Head of Access and Environment, Ben Seal said:
“It was great to have the opportunity to take Stephanie out on the water, to show her just why so many people are taking up water-sports as a way to stay healthy, have fun and be close to nature.
“It was great that we could host Stephanie at Manvers, as it provided a fantastic example of a successful multi-sport hub, where the local community can take part in a wide range of different activities at all levels of ability, in a safe, welcoming and clean environment.”
“Colleagues at Paddle UK and across all water-sports will continue to work as hard as we can to ensure that whichever political party forms the next Government, they absolutely recognise the immense popularity of being active in blue spaces, and the urgent need to expand our access to more places.”
Liberal Democrats push for ‘important access to nature’
To see what pledges other political parties have made in their manifesto, read our election round up.