‘Wood’ you believe how much people enjoy taking in nature?
Data from Natural England shows that 59% of people over the age of 16 spent time outdoors at least weekly.
The average for council areas across England was 58%.
Local figures are based on 10 years’ worth of surveys and includes people visiting to parks, canals and other urban open spaces as well as rural settings.
According to the results of the latest survey, 74% of adults across the North East say they head outdoors at least once a week – the second highest in the country.
Paul Bunton, from the woodland conservation charity the Woodland Trust, said: “We are pleased that the national trend seems to show that people are spending more time in the outdoors, albeit in the current crisis they need to heed government advice and not travel to our woods at this time.
“Woods are wildlife havens, a way to de-stress, have an adventure and learn about their importance, for example in tackling climate change."
Where people do not have woodland on their doorstep, Mr Bunton suggested going to the nearest park, adding that the charity had "huge aims" to increase tree cover and protect urban trees.
Craig Bennett, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, said people were turning to nature more than ever as the world faced health, climate and ecological emergencies.
He said: "When the pandemic has passed, there is a battle to resume – to restore nature and to empower people to take action for the natural world.”
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokeswoman said people should – in the current climate – follow the Government’s guidance on using green spaces.