Natural England, Defra and the Forestry Commission commissioned TNS Research International to undertake the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey. The first year’s fieldwork began in February 2009, with the results published on Natural England’s website in September 2010.
The survey was commissioned in order to improve upon the limited evidence base about the benefits that people derive from contact with the natural environment. Specifically there was a lack of information about how and why people currently engage with the natural environment.
The results from MENE have provided us with volumetric trend data for the first time in twenty years. This is a major step-change forward from numerous preceding, non-comparable surveys.
To supplement MENE, additional attitudinal questions were asked on six separate survey waves in 2009/10. The results collected via this additional analysis are presented in this report. The report documents our initial exploration of the relationship between behaviours (in terms of engagement with the natural environment) and attitudes. By commissioning this report, our intent is to stimulate interest amongst the research community to explore this data further.