Resources

Foundations on equity of access to the outdoors in the UK. Work that has inspired us, written by our friends, colleagues and community members. An ESEA Outdoors manifesto.

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Contents

What is access?
Why do we need access?
What can you do?
ESEA explainers
Other inspirational articles
Community-authored articles
Press
Speaking

What is the multifacetedness of access?

Diversity and representation. Wang, “East & Southeast Asian people go outdoors too”, BMC, Mar 2024.
Clothing and representation. Mary-Ann Ochota, “Hiking is for everyone - but only if you’re the right fit”, TGO, Feb 2023.
Access and othering. Anita Kerwin-Nye, “Why I am no longer talking about behaviour”, Substack, Aug 2023.
Sport underrepresentation. Phil Young, “Skin deep: why the outdoors has a race problem and how it can be fixed”, Mpora, Apr 2020.
People of colour and barriers. CPRE, “Access to nature in the English countryside”, Aug 2021.
Safe spaces and walking. Black Girls Hike & Steppers UK, “How two walking groups have led the way when it comes to diversifying the outdoors”, Mpora, Jan 2021.
Paths and inequity. Ramblers & NEF, “Who has a public right of way?”, Nov 2022.
A history of land access. Eben Myrddin Muse, “Right to Roam - an idea whose time has come”, Feb 2024.
Systemic issues. Jasmine Isa Qureshi, “What is the conservation industry doing to address its lack of diversity?”, Discover Wildlife, Apr 2022.
Transport and experience. Ingrina Shieh, “Transport troubles, limited freedom to roam and knowing where to go: the many barriers to accessing Great British walking”, Slow Ways, Aug 2023.
Leadership in mountaineering. “Trailblazer hopes to become first black female winter mountain leader in the UK”, The Standard, Sept 2023.
Clothing and safety. Steph Wetherell, “How Technical Outdoor Gear Changed my Experience of the Outdoors”, Alpkit blog, Dec 2023.
Neurodiversity in adventure. Allie Mason, “Neurodiversity and Adventure - Insights from Timber Festival 2024”, All The Elements blog, Oct 2024.
Gender identity and policing women. Matthew B, “The Real Problem with Exclusion in Sports”, Substack, Jan 2025.

Summary: a multifaceted equity of access

Why do we need equity of access?

Access and outdoor sports. Wang, “Diversity in the Mountains at GL3D”, BMC Summit Mag, Jun 2024.
Nature connection and equity of access. Nadia Shaikh, “Unpicking misanthropic nature conservation”, TGO, Apr 2024.
Nature connection and equity of access. Wang, “Access to nature - but for whom?”, Substack, Oct 2024.
Belonging and fell-running. Charmaine Sew, “SCARPA Great Lakeland 3 Day”, Substack, Jul 2024.
Diversity in the environment sector. SOS-UK, “The RACE Report”, Feb 2024
Privilege and National Parks. Eben Myrddin Muse, “Commodification of the countryside”, Campaign for National Parks Viewpoint mag, Oct 2024.
Inclusivity-washing. Wang, “Against inclusivity-washing in the outdoors”, Substack, Dec 2024.

What can you do?

Learn: educate yourself by reading and sharing the resources listed on this page, and reflect on your allyship as an individual, institution or club.
Learn: inclusive writing and media. Mary-Ann Ochota, “Writing inclusion into the outdoors”, Sep 2024.
Reflect on your privilege as an individual and as an organisation. James de Mierre, “Accessibility and Privilege in the Environmental Sector”, Green Jobs for Nature, Jul 2024.
Connect: listen to, support and fund leaders in our community. Check out All The Elements directory and other friends:
Act: Call out racism and be an ally. Racism Unmasked, “Combating ESEA racism: how to be an active bystander”, Mar 2021.

Brief explainers about ESEA issues

ESEA (pronounced “E-C”) stands for East & Southeast Asian.

ESEA invisibility and erasure. Mai-Anh Peterson, “What’s in a name?”, besea.n, Sep 2020.
ESEA racism and representation. besea.n, “Ethnic Disparities and Inequality in the UK among ESEA communities”, Jan 2021.
ESEA joy. besea.n, “But where are you from?”, Apple/Spotify.

Other inspirations 💛

Urban community and nature. Ingrina Shieh, “Walking on London’s wild side”, London National Park City, Aug 2024.
Colonialism, conservation, history. Aileen Angsutorn Lees, “Decolonising conservation in the UK”, Jun 2024.
Paths and data. Wang, “Mapping lost rights of way”, Aug 2022.
Diversity and community. Miranda Larbi, “Diversifying the outdoors: meet the leaders of colour busy making hiking, trail running and biking more accessible for all”, Stylist, Jul 2023.

Community-authored articles

Writings from our community members. Find more on the ESEA Outdoors UK Substack.

Inclusivity-washing. Wang, “Against inclusivity-washing in the outdoors”, Substack, Dec 2024.
Nature connection and equity of access. Wang, “Access to nature - but for whom?”, Substack, Oct 2024.
Urban community and nature. Ingrina Shieh, “Walking on London’s wild side”, London National Park City, Aug 2024.
Belonging and fell-running. Charmaine Sew, “SCARPA Great Lakeland 3 Day”, Substack, Jul 2024.
Access and outdoor sports. Wang, “Diversity in the Mountains at GL3D”, BMC Summit Mag, Jun 2024.
Colonialism, conservation, history. Aileen Angsutorn Lees, “Decolonising conservation in the UK”, Jun 2024.
Diversity and representation. Wang, “East & Southeast Asian people go outdoors too”, BMC, Mar 2024.
Transport and experience. Ingrina Shieh, “Transport troubles, limited freedom to roam and knowing where to go: the many barriers to accessing Great British walking”, Slow Ways, Aug 2023.
ESEA invisibility and erasure. Mai-Anh Peterson, “What’s in a name?”, besea.n, Sep 2020.

Press

Find a backlog of community-authored articles on the ESEA Outdoors UK Substack.

18-06-2024 | BMC Summit magazine | Diversity in the Mountains at the Great Lakeland 3 Day (free to read)
21-03-2024 | BMC | East and Southeast Asian people go outdoors too

Speaking

23-11-2024 | Kendal Mountain Festival | The Human Powered Session - presented by Patagonia
12-07-2024 | Love Trails Festival | The Outsiders Project: diversity in the outdoors with Phil Young and Trina Dawkins.
07-07-2024 | Timber Festival | Using community to tackle racism in the outdoors: an ESEA perspective
05-05-2024 | SCARPA Great Lakeland 3 Day | Diversity & inclusion in the outdoors