
Measuring participation
Measuring participation in outdoor recreation helps us ensure that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
Regular research helps us to identify target audiences and develop policies and practice to encourage people in Scotland to make more use of the outdoors for recreation, volunteering and learning.
Scotland’s People and Nature Survey
Scotland’s People and Nature Survey (SPANS) is a large-scale population survey that provides detailed data on how adults in Scotland use, value, and enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. SPANS data allow NatureScot to monitor key trends over the long-term and produce statistically robust insights.
The core research objectives for SPANS are to deliver strong quantitative evidence in relation to the following key areas:
- Visits to the outdoors for leisure and recreation;
- Recreational use of and attitudes towards urban greenspace;
- Connection to nature;
- Benefits of engagement with the natural environment;
- Environmental attitudes and behaviours.
Scotland’s People and Nature Survey 2023/24
Data was collected between April 2023 and March 2024 using an online survey panel, providing a robust and representative sample of the adult population in Scotland.
SPANS 2023/24 was supported by the following contributing partner organisations: Scottish Forestry, Sustrans, Cairngorm National Park Authority, and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.
SPANS 2023/24 outputs and data:
Past SPANS reports
SPANS was first commissioned in 2013. Three surveys were delivered between 2013 and 2020, with the final wave in this series (2019/20) being slightly curtailed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2019/20: NatureScot Research Report 1227
Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2017/18: NatureScot Research Report 1062
Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2017-18 - Technical report
Scotland’s People and Nature Survey 2013/14: NatureScot Commissioned Report 679
Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2013/14 - Technical Report
A series of SPANS special interest reports covers:
- People living in the Central Scotland Green Network area 2017/18
- Participation in outdoor recreation 2017/18
- Participation in outdoor recreation: Under-represented groups 2017/18
- The benefits associated with visiting the outdoors 2017/18
- Engagement with the natural environment 2013/14
- Visits to the outdoors with dogs 2013/14
Greenspace Scotland's 2017 Greenspace Use and Attitudes survey provides insights into the public's views and use of urban greenspace.
SPANS was preceded by the Scottish Recreation Survey (ScRS), which monitored participation in outdoor recreation among adults in Scotland from 2003 to 2012.
Between 2006 and 2012, ScRS data were also used to monitor progress on the Scottish Government’s National Indicator, Increase people’s use of Scotland’s outdoors. (The Scottish Government’s Scottish Household Survey has been used instead since 2013.)
Outdoor recreation during the pandemic
In May 2020, responding to the circumstances brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, NatureScot commissioned research to provide an understanding of people's outdoor visit behaviour and engagement with nature during the pandemic and lockdown period. Three surveys were delivered between May 2020 and September 2021.
NatureScot contributed to a joint-agency publication bringing together findings relating to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown restrictions of 2020 on people’s interaction and relationship with nature throughout Great Britain.
Why society need nature: Lessons from research during Covid-19
Scottish Nature Omnibus
The Scottish Nature Omnibus (SNO) monitors public attitudes and behaviours around a range of issues including biodiversity loss, wildlife, landscape, National Nature Reserves and the marine environment.
The survey ran since 2009 and until 2019 reported on a biennial basis. Read our most recent Scottish Nature Omnibus 2019 report.
A short series of SNO special interest reports covers:
- Public perception of landscape in Scotland
- Public perception of wildlife and wildlife management
- Public engagement with biodiversity and the natural environment
- Public perception of Scotland's marine environment
- Public perception of National Nature Reserves
- Young adults and nature
- The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community and nature
Scottish Government surveys
The Scottish Household Survey and the Scottish Health Survey collect information on the behaviour, health and lifestyles of the Scottish population to support the work of the Scottish Government. The survey findings also provide some useful insights into people's use of the outdoors, their physical activity levels, health & well-being, and attitudes towards the natural environment:
- Scottish Household Survey 2019 - Headline findings relating to the natural environment
- Scottish Household Survey 2019 - Visits to the outdoors - equalities data
- Scottish Household Survey 2019 - Local Authority-level data
- Scottish Health Survey 2019 - Headline findings on physical activity, health and well-being
- Scottish Health Survey 2016-2019 - Area Health Board - level data
The Scottish Government has also commissioned, in collaboration with NatureScot, specific research into aspects of people’s relationship to nature and outdoor recreation:
Scotland's on a Roll
‘Scotland’s on a Roll’ shares some of the good news about the growing proportion of people in Scotland now visiting the outdoors on a regular basis and raises awareness among a professional audience of the benefits of connecting more people with nature.
‘Scotland’s on a Roll’ shares some of the good news about the growing proportion of people in Scotland now visiting the outdoors on a regular basis and raises awareness among a professional audience of the benefits of connecting more people with nature.
Ensuring that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as part of everyday life forms a major part of the work of NatureScot and its partners. Increasing the proportion of people visiting the outdoors at least once a week is also one of the Scottish Government's National Indicators.