Differentiating outdoor recreation: Evidence drawn from national surveys in Scotland

Abstract

Outdoor recreation participation can be seen to fall into four identifiably different groups. Countryside outdoor recreation has been in decline for at least 25 years because of changing lifestyles and cultures, and targeted policy – which focuses heavily on the supply side – appears to have had little influence over consumption levels. Localised outdoor recreation is on the increase, accommodating ‘busier’ lives, in tandem with general national government policy health exhortations. Participation in community outdoor recreation, driven by community sport initiatives, health referral schemes and the notion of the ‘green gym’ has remained more or less static over time, for a variety of different reasons. Market-based outdoor recreation participation fluctuates in line with changes in the economy, disposable incomes and commoditised cultures. Of these four outdoor recreation types in Scotland, localised outdoor recreation seems to offer the greatest potential for developing a more active Scottish population into the future, as part of policies concerned with exercise, diet, health and well-being. It is likely, however, that this approach will predominantly benefit the higher social grades.

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