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.
This Action Plan sets a bold and dynamic direction for the Outdoor Recreation Network (ORN) from April 2025 to March 2028. Shaped by ORN’s members and key stakeholders through surveys and a hands-on workshop, it reflects a shared ambition to tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities in outdoor recreation today.
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.
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
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:
1. Positive climate response
Plan for climate resilience (e.g., shade trees, seasonal routes). Highlight low-carbon activities and green infrastructure. Share case studies and a toolkit for adaptation and mitigation. Build resilience through sharing learnings on alternative or adaptive routing.
2. Infrastructure planning and management
Share best practice in the planning and design of new or upgraded climate resilient infrastructure. Showcase sustainable practices and Net-Zero-aligned solutions. Share best practice on addressing erosion, storm damage, and trail safety.
3. Public communication
Promote safe, responsible recreation (e.g., fire risks, unsafe waters). Communicate effectively the impacts of extreme weather on the user experience.
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:
1. Income diversification
Explore how organisations can tap into innovative income streams such as renewable energy, carbon capture, visitor payback schemes, and green financing for biodiversity net gain.
2. Collaboration and advocacy
As a Network, connect you with key stakeholders across the sector and share fundraising expertise, helping you identify opportunities and refine your approach. Collaborate on shared challenges such as long-term maintenance costs, showcasing innovative materials, and approaches to reduce ongoing costs. Provide training, case studies, and guidance on funding routes (e.g., Chartered Institute of Fundraising) while strengthening partnerships with trusts, foundations, businesses, and national agencies (e.g., National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sport England, local councils).
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:
ORN 3-year Action Plan Framework
Access and accessibility ORN aims to reduce barriers and improve access to outdoor spaces, fostering inclusivity and enabling more people to enjoy nature. | Enhancing health and wellbeing | Managing impacts of climate change | Maximising impact with limited resources | Environmental impact and conservation | |
Cross-cutting themes | |||||
Inclusion and diversity We will ensure all approaches actively remove barriers and promote equitable access, so underrepresented and mobility-challenged groups can benefit fully from green and natural spaces. Inclusive practices will underpin strategies for health, climate resilience, resource use, and environmental conservation. | |||||
Sustainability We will champion long-term, sustainable solutions that balance people, place, and nature. Sustainability will guide decisions on accessibility, health and wellbeing, climate adaptation, resource efficiency, and environmental conservation to ensure future generations can enjoy the benefits of the outdoors. | |||||
ORN Functions | |||||
Collaboration and expertise sharing | |||||
Creating and sharing insights | |||||
Training and professionalisation |
Become a Member
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