According to DEFRA’s 2019 Landscapes Review published late last year, Britons from BAME backgrounds of all ages are among the least likely to visit our natural landscapes. In particular, 20% fewer so-called ‘visibly minority ethnic’ children visit green spaces weekly compared to white, middle-class children, and they visit 10% less than children from deprived backgrounds too. Why is this?

In-depth interview research carried out with the Cabinet Office Policy Lab team revealed that the countryside is perceived by minorities as a ‘white’ environment. One interviewee expressed concerns about inquisitive looks and finger-pointing, and the filming team had to pause some outdoor interviews due to people staring. In an interview for BBC1’s Countryfile, psychologist Beth Colliers said that hostility faced by parents and grandparents when they arrived in the UK had created negative perceptions of the countryside in black communities that had passed down the generations. 

There is also an imbalance in the governing bodies of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks, with only 0.8% coming from minority backgrounds. Fortunately, measures are being taken to change this and MOSAIC programmes are being prioritised to create opportunities for a more diverse range of people to visit natural landscapes.

It is important to note that the Landscapes Review does not tell the whole story. The village of Haworth in Yorkshire, famous as the home of the Bronte authors, has local moors walking signposted in Japanese as well as English due to the number of visitors from that country. A community used to overseas visitors is likely to be welcoming to a diverse range of Britons.

Predominantly white rural communities should not be stereotyped as racist. Though negative experiences have left their mark, perception does not always reflect the reality of 21st century Britain. Attitudes to minorities have changed hugely in recent decades. It is unfair to assume a community with little experience of diversity is closed to diversity. 

A low level of minority visitors is not necessarily due to racism. Many people simply do not have the habit of visiting the countryside whatever their backgrounds. The Canal and River Trust is developing inner city areas, known for their diversity, to improve access to nature. Most cities have parks and some people prefer beach holidays to the countryside. There are different ways to connect with nature.

It would also be helpful to carry out more wide-ranging research. Though the Landscapes Review created over 60 hours of footage, in-depth interviews necessitate a limited number of interviewees. Only one person expressed worries about being pointed at. Questionnaire-based research, targeting a larger number of people, would shed light on how widespread such concerns are. More detail on specific communities is needed, as BAME is a somewhat generalising term encompassing a range of cultural and ethnic groups.

Additionally, the filming interrupted by people staring could have been due to the cameras rather than people’s skin colour. Unlike in big cities, it is unusual to see a video interview in a rural area. Also, the term ‘visibly minority ethnic’ is strange. How dark does someone’s skin-colour have to be to be put in this category?

People from minority backgrounds are creating opportunities for themselves. For example, Black Girls Hike encourages black women to visit the countryside. Explorer and naturalist Dwayne Fields became the first black Briton to walk to the North Pole and has created many opportunities for others to connect with nature. Additionally, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones has been hugely successful in rural England; born in Jamaica and brought up in inner-city Birmingham, he bought a Devon farm and launched The Black Farmer brand selling local produce. He says:

“I will not be confined by race, convention or tradition. I am British … I celebrate great British traditions. I have strong opinions on issues such as rural affairs, justice for small producers and giving young people more opportunity.”

Creating opportunities and normalising visitor diversity in green spaces is the best way to overcome prejudice and show that the countryside is for everyone. Hopefully, we will reach a point where all feel welcome and it is no longer necessary to focus on ethnicity.

By Vicki Robinson

@storiesopinons