The Natural England Outdoor Learning and Outdoors for All Programmes work to promote equal access to good quality greenspace. Analysis of the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey (MENE) is routinely undertaken to inform and shape projects within these two programmes of work. Recent MENE reports have identified that certain groups in society, including members of the least affluent socio-economic groups (SEGs) and members of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (BAME) are the least likely to make frequent visits to the natural environment. MENE analysis also identified that households with children are more likely than those without children to make frequent visits to the natural environment.
Natural England is now working with partners, including Public Health England and DEFRA, to understand how enabling better access to greenspace might play a role in addressing social inequalities by delivering both health and learning outcomes. This report was commissioned specifically to inform the development of a community based outdoors for learning and health demonstration project in East London. For the purposes of this report, data was analysed from the following East London boroughs: Barking & Dagenham, Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.
Analysis was completed on data from the MENE survey period 2009-2013 and all findings referred to in this report are statistically significant.