YOUNG people in Oxfordshire are outdoors for less than half the time of their parents' generation, according to a new survey.

The findings by the Hill End Trust shows the county's youngsters spend an average of only six to nine hours outside per week, while reportedly spending an average of 20 to 30 hours in front of a screen.

Notably only six in ten young people strongly agreed that spending time outdoors is enjoyable, compared to 79% of over 25 year olds. Despite the trend towards more time inside, the value of being outside is still recognised by young people with 79% strongly agreeing it has positive health benefits.

Selby Dickinson, the CEO of Hill End commented: "These findings confirm a widely-felt trend that young people are adopting more indoor, sedentary lifestyles. It makes our role as one of the few access points to nature and ‘the great outdoors’ even more important.

"Our challenge is to get young people outdoors and to give them a really positive experience.

"It’s not always as instant a gratification as something like a computer game, but once its benefits are discovered, being in nature is truly wonderful.”"

Hill End, which operates a 65 acre outdoor centre just 4 miles from the centre of Oxford, commissioned the research as part of a listening exercise to help shape its strategy moving forward, having become an independent charity on the 1st July.

Molly, aged 11, visiting Hill End with the 'Ultimate Survival' summer camp, said "I like being outside because it makes me more adventurous and more excited; indoors there's not really much to do and in your bedroom you hardly have any space."