Access language and symbology
Support the development of universal or mutually compatible mapping and signage standards, ensuring consistent, accessible symbols and language across the UK and Ireland.
This Action Plan sets a bold and dynamic direction for the Outdoor Recreation Network (ORN) from April 2025 to March 2028.
ORN unites a diverse range of organisations to spark ideas, overcome challenges, and drive innovation in the sector. While not a lobbying body, it provides a powerful collaborative space where members can engage with government and influence policies that shape outdoor recreation. ORN invites organisations to join us in turning these actions into real impact.
How was this Action Plan developed?
Shaped by ORN’s members and key stakeholders through surveys and a hands-on workshop, this Action Plan reflects a shared ambition to tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities in outdoor recreation today. ORN has been delighted to welcome contributions online but was delighted to gather over 55 members and key stakeholders in Bristol in November 2024 in the spectacular surroundings of Leigh Court.
Capturing ideas in a new way!
Illustration created for ORN Live at the Bristol Workshop in November 2024 by Dr Penelope Mendonca. Pen is a pioneering graphic facilitator and cartoonist with more than twenty years experience of engagement and development work within the public and voluntary sectors.
ORN Action Plan 2025 – 2028
Vision
People from all backgrounds can responsibly enjoy and engage with the outdoors.
Mission
Support members to collaborate, share research, facilitate information exchanges, and champion inclusive and sustainable good practice.
Core Functions
Collaboration and Expertise Sharing
Foster connections among members and provide a space for organisations to collaborate on shared challenges.
Creating and Sharing Insights
Generate and disseminate valuable research and evidence to guide policy and practice.
Training and Professionalisation
Offer opportunities for learning, skills development, and professional growth.
Crosscutting Themes
Inclusion and diversity
ORN is committed to work across all themes to break down barriers and ensure outdoor spaces are welcoming for all. We will promote diverse participation and inclusive practices to create equitable outdoor experiences for everyone.
Sustainable development
ORN is committed to developing outdoor recreation across all themes in a sustainable manner, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own environmental, social, and economic needs.
Individual but interrelated themes
Improving access and accessibility
ORN will advocate for better access and reduced barriers to outdoor spaces, enabling more people to enjoy nature. Our goal is to create a truly open and inclusive outdoor environment.
Enhancing health and wellbeing
Outdoor recreation boosts health and wellbeing. ORN will champion initiatives that promote active lifestyles and nature-based activities to maximise these benefits for all.
Managing impacts of climate change
Outdoor spaces face growing climate challenges. ORN will help members address these impacts through adaptive strategies, ensuring resilience and enjoyment for the future and considering their potential climate adaptation and resilience benefits for local communities (e.g. reducing heat and flood risk).
Maximising impact with limited resources
ORN will drive collaboration and advocacy, supporting innovative funding approaches through stakeholder connections, training, and partnerships to tackle challenges and deliver impactful recreation projects.
Protecting nature and responsible access
Nature underpins outdoor recreation and ORN will help protect and restore nature by promoting responsible use of outdoor spaces and holistic solutions where conflicts arise.
Improving access and accessibility
Key challenges to access and accessibility persist, including inconsistent signage, physical barriers such as stiles, insufficient infrastructure for diverse needs, a lack of detailed accessibility information, and uneven prioritisation of inclusive improvements across sites. Our goal is to create a truly open, inclusive and welcoming environment that supports greater lifelong connection between people and nature. ORN will:
Enhancing health and wellbeing
High-quality local greenspace is vital to tackling health inequalities. ORN will champion initiatives that promote active lifestyles and nature-based activities to maximise benefits for all. The health sector’s understanding of nature’s role in health is growing – now it’s about action! ORN will:
Managing the impacts of climate change
Rising climate risks like flooding, erosion, wildfires, and storm damage are a growing challenge to our greenspaces, raising costs and disrupting access, as well as changing visitor behaviours. ORN will:
Maximising impact with limited resources
Public sector budget cuts, rising costs, short-term funding models and grant competition, combined with the cost-of-living crisis and the repair costs of more extreme weather events are straining resources within the outdoor recreation sector. ORN will:
Protecting nature and responsible access
Outdoor recreation depends on nature, providing benefits for wellbeing and local economies. Protecting these spaces requires responsible use and sustainable management to ensure outdoor recreation thrives for the future. ORN will:
Become a Member
We hope this Action Plan has inspired you and highlighted the value of being part of such a diverse network of organisations across the UK and Ireland. Click here to learn more about membership opportunities.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday
14 May 2025
ARG Meeting
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Online Academic Research Group Meeting
Monday - Wednesday
16 - 18 June 2025
Save The Date – ORN Conference 2025 ‘Outdoor Recreation as a Catalyst for Regenerative Tourism’
The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre
Wednesday
13 August 2025
ARG Meeting
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Online Academic Research Group Meeting
Wednesday
15 October 2025
ARG Meeting
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Online Academic Research Group Meeting