This publication is categorised as a CSO Frontier Series Output. Particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release as it may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources.
The results contained in this release reflect some of the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 situation. For further information see Background Notes.
In this survey, we defined the outdoors and natural spaces in Ireland as 'green' outdoor spaces in cities and towns (e.g. parks and urban green spaces), and in the countryside (e.g. mountains, forests or farmlands). It also included 'blue' outdoor spaces such as lakes, rivers and the open sea. Private and shared outdoor spaces such as gardens, patios, yards, balconies etc. were excluded from this section as they had a dedicated part in the survey.
This chapter concentrates on the respondents who said they liked to spend time outdoors.
The first publication released on 30 May 2022 showed that nearly all respondents liked spending time outdoors (98%). The two main reasons reported were to get fresh air (87%) and to enjoy nature (85%). See Table 2.1.a and Table 2.1.b. For further details, refer to the first publication 'Pulse Survey April-May 2022 - Our Lives Outdoors: Snapshot of Results'.
Male respondents were more likely to spend time outdoors to exercise (82%) compared with females (72%). See Table 2.1.c.
The three main reasons for young respondents aged 18 to 34 to spend time outdoors were to get fresh air (94%), to enjoy nature (88%) and to take a break (83%). The top three reasons for spending time outdoors of the age groups over 35 were to get fresh air, to enjoy nature and to exercise. Respondents in the age groups under 44 were more likely to spend time outdoors to take a break (around 80%), while those aged 70 and above were the least likely (28%).
Nearly seven in ten participants aged 18 to 34 said they liked spending time outdoors to socialise (66%), compared with four in ten of those in the age groups 45 and over. See Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1.c.
Outdoor space | To get fresh air | To enjoy nature (plants, animals, open spaces etc.) | To exercise | To take a break (e.g. from home, from work, etc.) | To socialise (i.e. meet friends for food / drinks in an outdoor setting) | Other / Don't know / Prefer not to say |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 to 34 | 94 | 88 | 76 | 83 | 66 | 6 |
35 to 44 | 89 | 89 | 80 | 79 | 47 | 9 |
45 to 54 | 88 | 85 | 80 | 71 | 42 | 8 |
55 to 69 | 80 | 82 | 75 | 48 | 41 | 6 |
70 and above | 77 | 76 | 75 | 28 | 39 | 11 |
Spending time outdoors to take a break was a main reason for 79% of students or pupils, 75% of those in employment and 67% of respondents engaged in home duties, while less than 30% of those in retirement mentioned going outdoors to take a break. Socialising was mentioned as a reason by 69% of students or pupils but only by 39% of retired respondents. See Figure 2.2 and Table 2.1.c.
Outdoor space | To get fresh air | To enjoy nature (plants, animals, open spaces etc.) | To exercise | To take a break (e.g. from home, from work, etc.) | To socialise (i.e. meet friends for food / drinks in an outdoor setting) | Other / Don't know / Prefer not to say |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Working for payment | 89 | 87 | 81 | 75 | 51 | 8 |
Unemployed | 89 | 87 | 78 | 58 | 45 | 10 |
Retired | 78 | 74 | 75 | 26 | 39 | 9 |
Student or pupil | 91 | 83 | 72 | 79 | 69 | 6 |
Engaged in home duties | 87 | 89 | 73 | 67 | 47 | 5 |
Unable to work due to longstanding health problems | 82 | 88 | 56 | 53 | 35 | 5 |
Participants living in urban areas were more likely to spend time outdoors to socialise (55%) than those living in small towns or villages (44%), or in rural areas (41%). See Table 2.1.d.
Eight in ten participants with children in their household said that they liked to go outdoors to take a break (78%), compared with six in ten respondents with no children in their household (60%). See Table 2.1.d.
Almost eight in ten participants who did not have access to a garden liked to spend time outdoors to take a break (76%), compared with just over six in ten who had access to a garden (64%). See Table 2.1.d.
The outdoor spaces most frequently visited by respondents who liked spending time outdoors were beaches, other coastlines or the sea (62%), urban green spaces (59%), and rivers, lakes, or canals (47%). See Table 2.2.a. For further details, refer to the first publication 'Pulse Survey April-May 2022 - Our Lives Outdoors: Snapshot of Results'.
Participants in the age groups under 44 most frequently visited urban green spaces at about 70%, while beaches, other coastlines, or the sea were the most frequently visited outdoor spaces for 65% of respondents aged 45 to 54 and about 60% of those aged 55 and above.
Participants in the age groups between 35 to 54 were also the most likely to visit grounds of a historic property or country park at about 40%, compared with 31% of young respondents aged 18 to 34 and 32% of those aged 55 and above. See Figure 2.3 and Table 2.2.b.
Reasons | Beach / other coastline / sea | Urban green space (e.g. a park, field or playground) | River, lake or canal | Field / farmland / countryside | Grounds of a historic property or country park |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 to 34 | 60 | 70 | 52 | 33 | 31 |
35 to 44 | 64 | 66 | 48 | 37 | 44 |
45 to 54 | 65 | 52 | 47 | 42 | 40 |
55 to 69 | 62 | 48 | 43 | 40 | 32 |
70 and above | 59 | 52 | 45 | 39 | 32 |
Urban green spaces were most frequently visited by respondents who were students or pupils (71%), employed (61%), or engaged in home duties (59%), compared with those who were unemployed (56%), retired (52%) or unable to work due to longstanding health problems (50%). See Figure 2.4 and Table 2.2.b.
Reasons | Beach / other coastline / sea | Urban green space (e.g. a park, field or playground) | River, lake or canal | Field / farmland / countryside | Grounds of a historic property or country park |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Working for payment | 64 | 61 | 48 | 37 | 38 |
Unemployed | 60 | 56 | 52 | 41 | 43 |
Retired | 60 | 52 | 45 | 37 | 32 |
Student or pupil | 62 | 71 | 54 | 32 | 23 |
Engaged in home duties | 60 | 59 | 38 | 47 | 35 |
Unable to work due to longstanding health problems | 58 | 50 | 41 | 37 | 29 |
Participants living in the Dublin region mainly visited urban green spaces (88%) and beaches, other coastlines, or the sea (67%), while those living in the Midlands most frequently visited rivers, lakes, or canals (61%) and fields, farmlands or the countryside (52%).
In the Mid-West region, participants most frequently went to beaches, other coastlines or the sea (53%); rivers, lakes, or canals (52%); and fields, farmlands, or the countryside (52%). Respondents from the Mid-East region visited most frequently beaches, other coastlines, or the sea (56%), urban green spaces (54%), and rivers, lakes, or canals (54%).
Visiting beaches, other coastlines, or the sea was most popular with respondents in South-West (69%), South-East (73%), West (67%), and Border regions (65%). See Table 2.2.b.
Respondents living in urban areas were more likely to say that they most frequently visited urban green spaces (79%), compared with those living in small towns or villages (50%), or rural areas (26%). Participants who lived in rural areas were the most likely to mention frequently visiting fields, farmlands, or the countryside (71%), compared with those living in small towns or villages (38%), or urban areas (21%). See Figure 2.5 and Table 2.2.c.
Reasons | Beach / other coastline / sea | Urban green space (e.g. a park, field or playground) | River, lake or canal | Field / farmland / countryside | Grounds of a historic property or country park |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Urban area (e.g. city or county town) | 66 | 79 | 49 | 21 | 36 |
Small town or village | 60 | 50 | 50 | 38 | 38 |
Rural area (in the countryside) | 56 | 26 | 43 | 71 | 33 |
Participants with children in their household were more likely to say they frequently visited grounds of a historic property or country park (41%) compared to those with no children in their household (33%). See Table 2.2.c.
Respondents who did not have access to a garden were the most likely to frequently visit urban green spaces (79%), compared with 57% of participants with access to a garden. See Table 2.2.c.
This section focusses on respondents who liked to spend time outdoors to enjoy nature and who would like to increase their knowledge of nature. The first publication released on 30 May 2022 showed that nine in ten (93%) respondents who liked spending time outdoors to enjoy nature would like to learn more about nature for three main reasons: 'Because I am curious about nature' (79%), 'To reduce my environmental impact' (69%), and 'To better understand my surroundings' (66%). See Table 2.3.a and Table 2.3.b. For further details, refer to the first publication 'Pulse Survey April-May 2022 - Our Lives Outdoors: Snapshot of Results'.
Being curious about nature was the reason most likely given by all age groups. Respondents aged under 45 were more likely to say they would like to learn more about nature because they are curious about it (85%), compared with 66% of those in retirement.
About seven in ten participants in the age groups under 55 said that they would like to know more about nature so they could reduce their environmental impact, compared with six in ten of those in the age groups 55 and over. Respondents aged 35 to 44 were more likely to say that they would like to learn more about nature to pass on this knowledge to their family/children (64%), compared with about 40% of those aged 55 and over. See Figure 2.6 and Table 2.3.c.
Age | Because I am curious about nature | To reduce my environmental impact | To better understand my surroundings | To pass on knowledge to my family/children | To improve my gardening skills |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 to 34 | 85 | 75 | 71 | 48 | 48 |
35 to 44 | 85 | 73 | 71 | 64 | 53 |
45 to 54 | 80 | 67 | 68 | 48 | 47 |
55 to 69 | 71 | 61 | 61 | 36 | 46 |
70 and above | 66 | 60 | 48 | 38 | 50 |
Students or pupils (80%), respondents in employment (71%) or unemployed (73%) were the most likely to say that they would like to increase their knowledge of nature to reduce their environmental impact, while participants in retirement were the least likely (56%). Seven in ten participants engaged in home duties (71%) mentioned that they would like to learn more about nature to pass on this knowledge to their family/children, compared with about three in ten of those in retirement (34%). See Figure 2.7 and Table 2.3.c.
PES | Because I am curious about nature | To reduce my environmental impact | To better understand my surroundings | To improve my gardening skills | To pass on knowledge to my family/children |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Working for payment | 81 | 71 | 69 | 48 | 51 |
Unemployed | 71 | 73 | 62 | 50 | 40 |
Retired | 69 | 56 | 52 | 50 | 34 |
Student or pupil | 85 | 80 | 77 | 37 | 44 |
Engaged in home duties | 76 | 64 | 58 | 59 | 71 |
Unable to work due to longstanding health problems | 80 | 65 | 63 | 51 | 38 |
Five in ten respondents (50%) who had access to a garden said that they would like to know more about nature to improve their gardening skills, compared with three in ten (33%) of those who did not have access to a garden. See Table 2.3.d.
Participants with children in their household were more likely to mention that they would like to learn more about nature to pass on this knowledge to their family/children (78%), compared with 35% of those who did not have children in their household. See Table 2.3.d.
About seven in ten participants who thought that they already do a lot (73%), do as much as they can (68%), or could do more (70%) to protect the environment would like to increase their knowledge of nature to reduce their environmental impact. Respondents who said they already do a lot were the most likely to mention they would like to learn more about nature to pass on this knowledge to their family/children (57%), compared with 44% of those who do as much as they can and 50% of those who could do more. See Figure 2.8 and Table 2.3.d.
PES | Because I am curious about nature | To reduce my environmental impact | To better understand my surroundings | To improve my gardening skills | To pass on knowledge to my family/children |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I already do a lot | 82 | 73 | 68 | 55 | 57 |
I do as much as I can | 78 | 68 | 63 | 47 | 44 |
I could do more | 79 | 70 | 68 | 49 | 50 |
Just under eight in ten respondents who thought that there is still time to act on environmental issues said they would like to know more about nature because they are curious about it. Around seven in ten of these respondents also mentioned wanting to know more so they could reduce their environmental impact or could better understand their surroundings. See Table 2.3.d.
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.