British weather (and more) puts damper on outdoor enthusiasm
While most of us agree that we feel better after being in the countryside, it seems that we need the sun to shine before we are prepared to venture out. In a survey for LEAF Open Farm Sunday, half (51%) of respondents said that they are put off spending time outside because it’s too cold, 45% because it’s too wet and a quarter (23%) because it is often too muddy.
Despite us living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, 83% of the population live in urban areas[1], and it seems there are a host of things that put people off making the most that the countryside has to offer.
In this fashion-conscious age, one in twenty (5%) of us worry that we don’t have the right outdoor clothing or footwear. This rises to nearly one in ten (9%) of under 35s. We are also nervous, it appears, of what we might find when we get there. Nearly one in eight (12%) say that it’s their dislike of bugs and insects – which are vital to British farmers — that puts them off spending time in the countryside. Our lack of knowledge about the countryside is also a barrier, with eight percent saying that they don’t know where to go – and 12% saying that it takes too much time and money to get there – despite most of us being less than an hour away from any countryside. Other reasons for not visiting included the countryside being boring, getting sunburnt, lack of wi-fi, laziness and lack of toilets. The research also reveals that for some it’s essential that wherever they are going in the countryside has to be photogenic, with thirty percent saying how ‘instagrammable’ a location is influences their decision.
Commenting on the findings ahead of this weekend’s Open Farm Sunday (10th June), Annabel Shackleton from LEAF, (Linking Environment And Farming) organisers of Open Farm Sunday manager said: “These results suggest that sadly many people are missing out on all that the countryside has to offer. Visiting a farm on 10th June is an ideal opportunity to connect with the countryside and learn more about British farming. We can’t promise that it won’t rain – and it’s likely that there will be some mud — but farmers will be doing all they can to welcome people onto their farms for a great day out! From guided nature walks to finding out about why worms, beetles and bees are so important, through to seeing science in action, or taking a tractor and trailer ride and admiring the view along the way. Each event is different, but each offers a fabulous opportunity to enjoy a day in the wonderful British countryside – whatever the weather!
[1] https://www.cia.gov/library/pu…
Click here to view the full press release.
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