Recreation in Nature – Visits to Ecosystems 2024

Main ecosystem visited

For 40% of people, their most recent same-day visit to nature was to an Urban Greenspace, while 17% of people visited Coastal Beaches, Dunes & Wetlands, and 12% visited Forests & Woodlands. Just 3% visited Lakes & Reservoirs, and Marine & Transitional Waters, on their most recent visit. See Figure 2.1 Table 2.1. 

Of people aged 16-29, 48% spent their most recent same-day visit to nature in an Urban Greenspace, while 30% of those aged 60-69, and aged 70 and over did. Just over a quarter (28%) of those aged 70 and over visited Coastal Beaches, Dunes & Wetlands, compared with 12% of those aged 30-39. 

People living in the Eastern and Midland region were most likely to have spent their most recent same-day visit to nature in an Urban Greenspace, at 49%, while only 27% of those living in the Northern and Western region did. Only 5% of people living in the Eastern and Midland region visited Grasslands and Croplands on their most recent visit, compared with 16% of people living in the Northern and Western region. Almost one in five (19%) of those living in the Southern region visited Coastal Beaches, Dunes & Wetlands on their most recent visit, with 5% visiting Marine & Transitional Waters. 

Half of urban dwellers visited an Urban Greenspace on their most recent same-day visit to spend time in nature, compared with 23% of those living in rural areas. A higher proportion of rural dwellers visited Grasslands and Croplands (19%) and Forests & Woodlands (17%) than people living in urban areas (4% and 10% respectively). See Table 2.1.

The type of coastal area visited varied, with 9% of most recent same-day visits spent on a sandy or rocky beach, and 4% on a seaside promenade. See Table 2.2.

The majority (70%) of the most recent same-day visits to nature were carried out by groups of two or more, with 35% of visits by groups of two people. Solo visits accounted for 30% of visits, while groups of six of more accounted for 6%. See Table 2.3.

Travel

Most people stayed close to home on their most recent same-day visit to spend time in nature; around 26% travelled one kilometre or less, while 41% travelled between one and ten kilometres. Nearly three in ten (29%) travelled over ten kilometres. See Figure 2.2, Table 2.4.

Almost a third (30%) of same-day visits to Urban Greenspaces involved travel of one kilometre or less, with 46% between one and ten kilometres. Half of visits to Grasslands and Croplands involved travel of 1 kilometre or less, with 31% between one and ten kilometres. About a third (35%) of visits to Rivers & Canals involved travel of one kilometre or less, with 49% between one and ten kilometres. Six in ten visits to Heathlands & Shrub, Inland Wetlands, and Sparsely Vegetated Ecosystems involved travel of more than ten kilometres. Marine & Transitional Waters were the ecosystems with the next biggest proportion of visits involving travelling more than ten kilometres, at 54%. See Table 2.4.

Private vehicles were the most popular mode of transport on same-day visits to spend time in nature, at 57% of visits, while 37% of visits involved walking. Bus (4%), bike (2%) and train (2%) were less popular options. See Table 2.5.

Expenditure

Overall, 33% of people had no expenditure on their most recent same-day visit to nature, while 67% did. Expenditure was most likely for those visiting Marine & Transitional Waters (79%), Forests & Woodlands (78%), and Coastal Beaches, Dunes & Wetlands (76%). Least likely to spend money on their visit were those visiting Grasslands and Croplands (52%) and Rivers & Canals (45%). See Table 2.6.

Of those who spent money, the mean spend per visit for all ecosystems was €38. The highest total mean spend for an ecosystem was for visits to Marine & Transitional Waters, at €59, while visits to Lakes & Reservoirs had the lowest mean spend, at €26. See Figure 2.3, Table 2.6.

The mean spend of those who spent money on Food & Drink was €28 per visit. Visits to Coastal Beaches, Dunes & Wetlands had the highest mean spend on Food & Drink, at €33, followed by Grasslands and Croplands at €32. The lowest mean spend on Food & Drink was for those who visited Rivers & Canals, at €22. See Figure 2.4, Table 2.6.

The mean spend was higher for female visitors (€40) than male visitors (€35), with females tending to spend more in all ecosystems apart from Marine & Transitional Waters, where males spent more than females (€75 compared with €35).

The mean spend was highest for those aged 40-49 (€45). People living in the Southern region spent an average of €42 on their same-day visits to nature, while those from the Northern and Western region averaged €34. See Table 2.7.