A walk and picnic in local woodlands was once considered a fun and must-do outing for so many families. But today, research shows that families have turned their backs on their local woods – and don’t even know where to find a woodland near them – choosing instead to go to a theme park or stay indoors. This does seem really sad, given that a wodlands walk can reveal a host of great wildlife sightings and give kids and dogs the chance to burn off some energy.

The study was released this week by furnishing experts IKEA in association with the Woodland Trust and found that 20% of families don’t spend time with their family in local woodland, as they don’t know where to find it. Even more worrying, especially for the Woodland Trust, is that a third of people say they don’t have any woodland near them to visit.

And when it does come to spending time together, 18% are happiest at a local theme park and a 10% prefer to stay indoors watching TV or playing computer games. Some 28% do head to the beach, but this is only just over a quarter of families asked.

Indeed, some 27% of parents admitted that their kids spend less than two hours a week playing outside and 5% say their kids spend zero time playing outside of their homes.

However, parents do still think that outdoors play is important for playing outdoors   Half of those asked think it is “very important” for their kids to get out of the house to play and 49% would like to see more woodland in the UK to enjoy with their family. This is good news for the Woodland Trust and IKEA, which has been supporting the Trust since 2007 through the IKEA FAMILY Foot of Forest campaign.

Let's go to British woodlands

Now the Woodland Trust – and IKEA – are calling for more people to head off ot local woodlands and to back a campaign to create new woodland in the UK.

Janette Wickens, of the Woodland Trust, says: “As well as the environmental and ecological benefits that woodland provide, people have a lot to gain from visiting their local woodland.

“A walk in the woods can give anyone a feeling of peace and tranquillity and most of us have fond childhood memories of playing on or around trees.

“With the support from IKEA we are able to plant more woodland across the UK and ensure that future generations will be able to reap these benefits too”.  

If you do walk in local woodlands, where do you go and what are your favourtie sights?