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Household surveys in England

In March 2009 fieldwork commenced on the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey, which includes collecting information on visits to the outdoors in England. Further information on the survey, including copies of annual reports and online data viewers to access more detailed results, is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/monitor-of-engagement-with-the-natural-environment-survey-purpose-and-results

Table 6.2 shows the main characteristics of visits to woodlands over the most recent 5 years. Around two thirds of visits to woodland involved walking with a dog and around one fifth involved other walking. Walking was the main mode of transport for around three fifths of visits to woodland. Around three fifths of visits to woodland were within 2 miles.

Table 6.2 Woodland visit characteristics1 – England 2010-11 to 2014-15

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

per cent

Activities on trip (multi response)

Walking with a dog

68 70 67 69 67

Other walking

21 21 21 20 21

Wildlife watching

5 5 5 5 5

Playing with children

5 5 4 5 6

Eat/ drink out

4 4 3 3 5

Visiting an attraction

3 2 2 2 2

Off road cycling or mountain biking

2 2 2 3 2

Road cycling

2 2 2 2 2

Main mode of transport

On foot

62 65 65 62 60

Car/ van

34

32

31

33

36

Bicycle

2 2 3 3 2

Distance travelled (one way)

Less than 1 mile

36 30 31 36 39

1 to 2 miles

27 32 29 27 25

3 to 5 miles

19 22 23 22 19

6 to 10 miles

8 7 8 7 9

Over 10 miles

10 9 9 8 8

Source: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), carried out by TNS, for Natural England, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Forestry Commission.

Notes:

1. All trips that included a visit to woodland.

.. Denotes data not available.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

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