Survey - Wicklow Outdoor Recreation Strategy

Wicklow Outdoor Recreation Strategy (2008 – 2012)
SURVEY OF OUTDOOR RECREATION IN WICKLOW

Anyone who enjoys a leisure, sporting or holiday activity in the outdoors in Wicklow can have a say in the development of a new Outdoor Recreation Strategy for Co. Wicklow (2008 – 2012). The aim of the strategy is to improve opportunities for outdoor recreation in Wicklow and to promote physical activity by Wicklow residents. Fill in this survey if you or a child in your care participates in a water, air or land-based activity in the outdoors in Wicklow. A full description of the project, including a list of the project partners is available at http://wicklowleader.ie/outdoorrecreation

The survey has three sections and should take about 15 minutes or so to complete. RSP Consulting will never identify your answers with you and will report anonymous, collective views only. This version of the survey is designed to be filled in on your computer screen and then submitted by clicking the submit button at the end of the form. You will be able to print the form before clicking submit. Contact info@rspconsulting.info or 087-3222082 with queries on the form.

A: GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
Gender: Male Female
Age: 16 - 25 26 - 39 40-59 60+
Main occupation: Full Time Part-time Student Caregiver (incl. caring for own children at home) Retired Unemployed
Do you have a disability that impacts on your participation in outdoor recreation? Yes No
Marital status: Single Single with children Married Married with children Partnership
Education level: Primary School Junior Cert. Leaving Cert. Third Level
Household income (Euro - before tax): Less than 20,000 21,000 - 40,000 41,000 - 60,000 61,000 - 80,000 81,000 - 100,000 100,001 plus Don't wish to provide
Usual residence: Wicklow Dublin Other county adjoining Wicklow Other national UK Rest of Europe Elsewhere
How active are you? Less than 2.5 hours structured activity per week 2.5 hours or more structured activity per week
Would you say that you do the right amount of outdoor recreation for you? Yes No
If you answered no above, what prevented you from doing more outdoor recreation in 2007? (Please choose a maximum of 3 reasons - from most important to least important)
1st ranked reason	2nd ranked reason	3rd ranked reason

B: YOUR OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN WICKLOW

Which activities did you undertake in Co. Wicklow in 2007, how often, who with and what is your skill level? (Click on each drop-down list to see the options available)

Main activity list: How often?
Level? who with

2nd activity list: How often?
Level? who with

3rd activity list: How often?
Level? who with

On average, how many people are in your group when you do your activity?

Generally, how would you rank the purpose of your main/favourite activity in the outdoors in Wicklow (Please rank the most important reason as 1, the next most important ranked 2 etc.):

For exercise, health reasons
To enjoy the landscape and scenery of Co. Wicklow
For social / leisure reasons, to spend time in the open air with family or friends
For the excitement, challenge involved
For training, competition

Where do you most often do your main activity in Co. Wicklow?
Location 1: Location 2:
or (Type in a specific location, especially if you usually use the same base)

What average distance do you most often travel to do your main activity in Wicklow?

What transport do you most often use to get to your activity?

Car Public transport Mainly group bus Bike On foot

How long do you most usually spend each time on your main activity in Wicklow? (Excluding travel time)
Less than 1 hour 1 - 2 hours approx. Half day Full day Overnight/while on holiday

How much do you typically spend in Wicklow each time you do your main outdoor recreation activity? (Euro estimate - per visit to Wicklow/activity done)

Travel costs (e.g. petrol costs, bus tickets)
Accommodation cost in Wicklow
Meals, drinks, snacks in Wicklow
Activity fee, entry fee

How familiar are you with the 'Leave No Trace' programme?
Unfamiliar Somewhat familiar Very familiar

C:YOURVIEWS ON OUTDOOR RECREATION IN WICKLOW

What matters to you about your outdoor recreation in Wicklow and why?
(Please rank below what matters most to you about outdoor recreation in Wicklow, with 1 being most important, 2 being next most important etc. If the item is not important to you - just leave it blank.)

Wicklow is local to me, it's easy for me to get to my activity.
Wicklow is special to me because of the high quality of the activity resource e.g. the trail is well marked, different skill level options are available.
Wicklow's beautiful scenery is important to my enjoyment of my outdoor activity.
Good quality facilities such as car-parking, toilets are important to my outdoor recreation activity in Wicklow
Interacting with the natural environment in Wicklow when I'm doing my outdoor recreation activity is important to me.
Wicklow is familiar to me, I know where to go to do my outdoor recreation activity
It's important to me that I can do my outdoor activity in Wicklow without meeting too many other recreational users.
Membership of my club is important to me and the club regularly organises events, competition, training etc. in Wicklow
Good quality accommodation / restaurants / pubs in Wicklow are important to my enjoyment of the outdoor recreation activity I do.
I have a disability and good access to outdoor recreation opportunities in Wicklow is important to me.
As a visitor, Wicklow's reputation as an attractive place to visit was important to my choice of location for my activity.

Please state your level of agreement with the following statements:	Disagree (1) ..... Agree (5)

There are enough outdoor recreation opportunities in Wicklow for people with a disability.	1 2 3 4 5
I'm aware of the need to seek permission to access private land and go where I'm permitted to do my activity in Wicklow.	1 2 3 4 5
The information I need on where I can do outdoor recreation activities in Wicklow is easy to find and clear.	1 2 3 4 5
I can purchase or hire the equipment in Wicklow for my activity if I need to.	1 2 3 4 5
Natural and cultural resources in Wicklow are negatively impacted by outdoor recreational use.	1 2 3 4 5
I would take up an opportunity to sample a new outdoor recreation activity in Wicklow.	1 2 3 4 5
There are enough quality recreation locations where I can continue to pursue my activity in Wicklow in the future.	1 2 3 4 5
I regularly encounter other recreational users behaving irresponsibly while pursuing my outdoor recreation activity in Wicklow.	1 2 3 4 5
In general, recreational users have sufficient knowledge and awareness of the natural environment.	1 2 3 4 5
Wicklow is sufficiently well promoted as a destination for outdoor recreation.	1 2 3 4 5

If there were improvements that would help you to participate more in outdoor recreation in Co. Wicklow, what would it be? e.g. think about; trails, clubs, information, environment, training, services such as facilities such as car-parking, employment opportunities, funding, types of activities, etc. For your idea to contribute fully, please be as specific as possible - e.g. name a particular location, provide details.

How many children of school-going age have you?

What ideas for the improvement of outdoor recreation in Wicklow for young people does your family have?

You've reached the end of the questionnaire... Thank you. We're grateful for your time in taking part! Check out our website: www.wicklowleader.ie/outdoorrecreation for more information on the development of the Wicklow Outdoor Recreation Strategy or come along to the public workshop being held at 8PM on Wednesday, 7th May at the Glendalough Hotel, Glendalough.