Access to Nature Green Paper

Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right: one of the things that it is really important for us to do as a Government is get children out into nature. We know that, if you get out in nature at a young age, you are more likely to continue to do so during your life, and we know how good it is for people’s health. On children, I can reassure the noble Baroness that we have been working with the Department for Education on a number of measures where we can increase children’s connections with and understanding of nature. We are working to develop a national nature education park, for example, and looking at how we can embed it throughout the school life of children.

There are also other ways. I recently visited Low Gillerthwaite field centre, for example, to see its excellent work. It trains young people in nature conservation and brings children in to see nature. As we develop the Green Paper, which we are absolutely committed to, we are also working on myriad other ways in the meantime to ensure better access for all people, including children.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)]

My Lords, I declare my farming interests as declared in the register. Farming for food production and the environment is eminently compatible, but does the Minister agree that with rights come responsibilities, and with the importance of adherence to the Countryside Code and a much greater awareness of it? We want to encourage so many people of all backgrounds and all regions to come and enjoy the glories of the countryside, but there must be responsibility with it. Also, I think that the countryside ticks better with pragmatism rather than ideology. We need to remember that we are relying on the farmland for food and to look after nature and there will be times when it is not advisable to have wider access, for the protection of not only food production but the thing we cherish, which is nature.

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

I could not agree more with the noble Lord about responsibility. I live in Cumbria, as noble Lords know, where there is damage, litter, the leaving opening of gates and sheep worrying, because people sometimes do not understand when they go to the countryside how to be responsible. I am really keen that we increase access. I do not need increased access to nature, because I have plenty and I enjoy walking. Plenty of people do not. They are the people we want to get out into nature, because we know how good it is for them. At the same time, an education process about responsibility in the countryside is incredibly important.