Nature-based leisure and tourism in England’s Humberhead Levels

An evaluation of nature-based leisure and tourism as drivers for change in the Humberhead Levels is part of ongoing research with the Countryside Agency (CoAg). The Agency wishes to facilitate objectives of the Value in Wetness (Land Management Initiative) to re-establish wetlands and wetter landscapes across much of the area. To achieve a more sustainable wetland landscape with a vibrant farming and rural economy it is necessary to identify barriers and triggers for change. Diversification into nature-based leisure and tourism in the context of sustainable tourism, focusing on water- and wetland-related initiatives could be a way forward. This paper reports a scoping study and audit of outdoor leisure and tourism assets. It follows reviews of the Outdoor Leisure Industry (Beard et al., 2000) and the Wildlife Leisure Industry (Rotherham et al., 2000). These developed the importance of Wildlife Leisure as a concept in sustainable tourism and rural development. The Humberhead Levels research moves this from concept to near implementation. Relevant tourism information was collated to help establish the importance of the sector to a geographic area such as the Humberhead Levels. The reasons for current failings are noted. Case studies of selected wetland creation and restoration projects are presented and discussed. The research indicates significant contributions of nature-based leisure and tourism to regional and local economies. It also highlights problems of awareness, coordination and absence of the necessary support infrastructures at all levels. The importance of attracting new visitors and retaining local users is discussed.