Adults who on average spend just 79 minutes outdoors

New research reveals one in 14 UK adults will not see any daylight on the Summer Solstice, longest day of the year – today Sunday June 21.
Chris PackhamChris Packham
Chris Packham

This figure rises to more than one in ten amongst 18-24 year-olds.

The study, commissioned by outdoor travel and adventure brand Kathmandu, reveals that Brits who leave the house on a daily basis will spend on average only 79 minutes outdoors.

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Almost half (47%) cite the British weather as the main reason for not being outside enough; 41% blame work commitments for getting in the way; 14% say they can’t afford to whilst one in 10 (10%) believe computers, tablets, game consoles and smartphones steer them clear of outdoor pursuits.

Chris PackhamChris Packham
Chris Packham

Almost one in three (29%) parents surveyed express concern that their children are not spending enough time in the open air. Meanwhile, almost one in five (17%) hardy respondents state that nothing prevents them from devoting time to being outdoors.

Walking is by far the most popular outdoor activity (70%) among adult Brits, followed by socialising with family and friends (43%).

Almost one in four (23%) enjoy walking their dog and one in five (20%) like to get active outdoors through sport and exercise. A further 20% make sure to find the time to embrace nature with pastimes such as bird-watching.

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However, some adults are more adventurous when it comes to spending their leisure time, by pursuing activities like mountain biking (8%), hiking (13%), mountaineering and rock climbing (3%) and water sports including surfing (9%).

A few thrill seekers (4%) indulge in extreme sports such as bungee jumping, zorbing and paragliding whenever they have the chance.

Meanwhile, one in six (16%) are determined to experience the outdoors on their own terms by caravanning and camping.

In addition, Brits say that on average they connect with the great British outdoors four times a year, but of those two-thirds (66%) will never stray further afield than their local area or region.

Summer Solstice facts:

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- In the northern hemisphere the solstice almost always falls on 21 June, the exact time of mid-summer changes every year, this year it will be at 17:39 BST.

- The summer solstice can occur between the 20 and 22 June. In 2016 it will occur on 20th.

- A solstice happens when the sun’s highest point is at its furthest point from the equator.

- The word Solstice comes from the Latin ‘solstitium’ meaning ‘Sun stands still’ because the apparent movement of the Sun’s path north or south stops before changing direction.

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- The common name used amongst Pagans for the Summer Solstice is ‘Litha’.

- Hundreds of pagans and non-pagans will congregate at Stonehenge to see the sun rise in the morning and welcome in the summer.

- The Druids celebrated the day as the wedding of heaven and earth.

- The solstice is also know as ‘Midsummer’s Eve’ and is a national holiday in Sweden and Finland.

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- On the solstice, the midnight sun is visible throughout the night from just south of the Arctic Circle to the North Pole, conversely, areas south of the South Pole see no sunlight.

- And from Monday, 22 June the days will gradually begin to shorten until the shortest day, or the ‘Winter Solstice’ in December.

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