Three All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) have released the Reconomics 3.0 report, highlighting the crucial economic, community, and wellbeing benefits of outdoor activity.

Launched at a Westminster meeting on Monday (26 January 2026) by the APPGs for Outdoor Recreation & Access to Nature, Swimming, and Sport & Physical Recreation, the report shows that outdoor recreation is a major economic driver, particularly in rural areas, and vital for mental/physical health, community connection, and environmental awareness.

Key findings include:

• 34.3 million people participate in outdoor recreation (3.1m more than a decade ago).
• 1 million full-time jobs are associated with the sector.
• Participation and volunteering generate about £5 billion in healthcare savings.

The report, commissioned by the Sport and Recreation Alliance's Water Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits Divisions (now combined and chaired by Paddle UK's Ben Seal), was produced in partnership with Leeds Beckett University.

Ben Seal, who was on the steering group, stated the report is highly relevant for a government prioritising economic growth and preventative healthcare. 

He said, "Reconomics 3.0. makes a clear case for outdoor recreation as an accessible and effective solution to many of the major challenges in public health, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion that we are currently facing." 

He stressed the data will be a "useful tool" in proving outdoor access is key to health, happiness, and the economy.

Lisa Wainwright MBE, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, highlighted the report's data, noting the "sizeable impact that outdoor recreation has, reaching far and wide, into health, communities, tourism and manufacturing."

Andy MacNae, Chair of the Outdoor Recreation & Access to Nature APPG, called it a "truly vital piece of evidence" that makes an "irrefutable case: supporting outdoor recreation is not a luxury, but a strategic investment in our nation’s future." 

He said the clear messages from the report concerning the significant economic contribution, and billions in healthcare savings, means "We must prioritise access to nature and active outdoor pursuits."

Following the successful Reconomics (2014) and Reconomics Plus (2017) reports, it is hoped Reconomics 3.0 will similarly inform government policy.