The UK Government has this week published its long-awaited 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which outlines its priorities for the remainder of this parliament. While we’re pleased to see the importance of access to nature being recognised, the plan’s lack of ambition and urgency are concerning.

With an estimated 20 million people in England living more than 15 minutes’ walk from green and blue spaces, it’s a welcome step to see the paper reaffirm the previous government’s commitment to tackle this issue. But it is hard to see how the actions outlined in the EIP will be enough to do so.

It’s also disappointing to see that the Government has not made this commitment a legally-binding target, considering the recognised importance of improving access to nature in achieving so many other governmental goals.

A key positive is the official announcement of the long-overdue Access to Nature Green Paper. However, the timeline is deeply concerning, with an indefinite completion date of “during this Parliament”.

The recently published APPG inquiry report Outdoors for All is the blueprint for the changes that are needed, compiled from more than 750 submissions from across the access, environment and land management sectors. Considering much of the legwork has already been done, there is no clear reason why the Government would need three years to publish this green paper.

Meanwhile, less ambitious actions have been prioritised (many of which, cynically, are not new actions at all). This sequencing is back-to-front. The Green Paper must come first, to identify what’s needed in terms of legislative reform, policy change and programme delivery. This can then inform a more strategic approach to targeting resources where they are most needed. We urgently need a clear timetable for publishing the Green Paper and taking forward the outcomes.

There are also some major omissions in the Plan. Concerningly, there is no mention of the need to support and improve existing public rights of way, which are the primary means by which people access the countryside in England. There is also the failure to consider the existing legal requirement to review maps of open access land by 2030, which could provide more accessible green spaces close to where people live.

Lastly, there is mention of the government’s pre-election promises to create nine new river walks and three new national forests. We look forward to working with the Government to fulfil these promises; however, these initiatives must provide genuinely new permanent access, in order to meaningfully contribute to the 15-minute commitment and break down the barriers people face in getting outdoors. 

Time will tell if this latest announcement is a true change in direction, or just another example of words instead of action. Help us stand up for access by calling on the UK Government – no more broken promises. Stop neglecting the public’s access to nature.