Accessible Outdoors Month: Making Green Spaces Easier for Everyone to Reach
July is Accessible Outdoors Month — a time to highlight the importance of making our parks, green spaces, and walking routes open and usable for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background.
Whether you’re walking, wheeling, cycling, or using public transport, being able to access local green spaces easily and confidently is vital for both personal wellbeing and community inclusion.
Why Accessible Outdoors Matter
Green spaces improve physical health, reduce stress, and create opportunities for social connection. But they’re only truly valuable if everyone can get to them and use them safely.
Accessible outdoors means:
- Well-connected walking and cycling routes
- Step-free paths, benches, and rest points
- Safe crossings and signage for all users
- Public transport links to parks and open spaces
Making the outdoors more accessible also supports sustainable travel by enabling more people to choose walking, cycling, and public transport instead of relying on cars.
Promoting Inclusive, Active Travel
During Accessible Outdoors Month, we’re encouraging residents and employees to explore local parks and open spaces using active and sustainable travel methods that work for them.
That could mean:
- Using a quiet, step-free walking route to work through a local park
- Cycling to a nearby green space using an off-road path
- Taking a pushchair- or wheelchair-friendly route for a weekend outing
- Combining public transport with walking or wheeling to access nature
Every step taken towards more inclusive and sustainable travel helps reduce congestion, improve air quality, and ensure no one is left behind.
- Identify and promote accessible walking and cycling routes
- Share travel advice and route planning tools
- Support inclusive transport options that benefit all users
This month, we invite you to explore how accessible your local outdoors are — and to try a new, active route to a green space near you.
Explore your local active travel options or get in touch for accessible route support: [Disability Sport & Inclusive Activities | Every Body Moves]
or visit Accessible Outdoor Adventures… | Accessible Great Days Out UK for accessible adventures near you!