Fun, easy and free - why we must rediscover the joy of life outdoors

CITY dwellers are being encouraged to make daisy chains, skim stones and fly kites in a new campaign aimed at getting people to spend more time outdoors.

Research shows more than half of Scottish households get out less than once a week to spend time enjoying the great outdoors.

Scottish Natural Heritage has launched a new 105,000 campaign called "Simple Pleasures, Easily Found". It aims to remind people, especially those living in cities, that there are simple ways to have fun without spending lots of money or needing specialist equipment or planning.

New leaflets and a website encourage people to hunt for four-leaf clovers, play Pooh sticks, fly kites, or simply watch a sunset. They suggest people in cities should try exploring green spaces close to home, such as parks, allotments, and even window boxes.

SNH campaign manager Eleanor MacDonald said: "It doesn't need a lot of preparation or planning to enjoy the outdoors in Scotland and you don't have to travel far either. Whether you live in a small town or a busy city, simple pleasures can be found close to where you live.

"I like getting away from my desk at lunchtime and enjoy sitting outside under a tree while I eat my sandwiches, listening to the birds.

"We want to encourage more people to take a new look at the green spaces in their neighbourhoods - and it's fun, easy and free."

The Scottish Recreation Survey, a ten-year programme of monitoring participation in outdoor recreation, shows that 53 per cent of Scottish households currently enjoy the outdoors less than once a week.

The campaign was launched at Maryhill Locks on the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow yesterday. It is targeted particularly at people in Scotland's three largest cities - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Teams of SNH staff will get out and about in the three cities to encourage people to get involved.

Roseanna Cunningham, environment minister, said: "Taking the time to enjoy the nature on our doorsteps can be hugely rewarding. It is not only great fun, but there are also many mental and physical health benefits to be gained by getting outdoors regularly. Scotland's outdoor environment is filled with fun and accessible activities for people of all ages and I hope this campaign encourages more people to enjoy Scotland's fantastic natural environment more often."

l www.snh.gov.uk/simplepleasures