One thing I’ve always loved about adventures in the great outdoors is that anyone can do them. You can literally pedal away from your front door and go anywhere on earth.
You can walk in the countryside without any special gear or skills. All you need to do is go!
I’ve always championed the simplicity and equality of the outdoors. Anyone can do it! Everyone gets rained on. We all have fun.
But, like with many things in recent years, I have begun to realise how lucky I am with so many things I take for granted. My explorations when I wrote Local showed me that the outdoors are not equally accessible for everyone.
It’s true that the outdoors is free, but is it equal? Research has shown that a range of barriers can prevent those who need it most getting outside. Economic barriers; working long hours, lack of private transport, expensive equipment – and cultural barriers; no family or community traditions of the outdoors, lack of role models – as well as someone’s age, health and other factors, has tilted the land in favour of wealthier demographics. Our outdoor spaces lack diversity compared to the country as a whole.
This short film is worth watching – it helped me be more appreciative of things I’ve taken for granted.
