Pictured (L-R) are Katrina Godfrey, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Agriculture, North Antrim UUP MLA Robin Swann; Dawson Stelfox MBE, Chair of Outdoor Recreation NI.
Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann has hosted an event at Stormont which illustrated the benefits of outdoor recreation for the people of Northern Ireland.
The North Antrim MLA and former Stormont Health Minister said:
“The availability of outdoor recreation spaces has long been recognised in playing a vital role in the health and emotional wellbeing of people living here. There are a number of big benefits, not least with outdoors spaces being so important for people having suitable access to fresh air and opportunities for exercise.
“Walking has to be one of the most effective yet underrated forms of exercise. It’s freely accessible; it’s proven to be a mood booster and studies have also shown that a daily 15-minute walk could even add up to three years to a lifespan.
“I was delighted to have been asked by Outdoors Recreation NI to host and speak at its recent event at Stormont. Equally importantly, it was an opportunity to share insights from the People in the Outdoors Monitor for Northern Ireland (POMNI), the first-ever, population-wide survey on how people engage with the outdoors, the value it brings, and the barriers faced particularly by different socio-economic groups, people with a disability, and those living in rural areas.
“Thankfully here in North Antrim, there are plenty of opportunities right on our doorstep, but that’s not always the case for the rest of Northern Ireland. So I was more than happy to welcome the attendees to Stormont for what was a very beneficial and insightful event."
"Importantly, too, a number of civil servants and other policy makers attended so I am hopeful that the messages delivered will have been useful for future schemes that are designed to increase people's access and participation with outdoors recreation,” said Swann.
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