Walking Programmes
Walking for Health
Natural England's Walking for Health (WfH) initiative encourages people of all ages to take regular, short walks in their local communities. The walks enable participants to enjoy their local, natural spaces in the company of others whilst improving health through increased physical activity.
Since WfH was launched in 2000, the scheme has helped to create over 600 local health walk schemes and has, in total, trained more than 40,000 volunteer walk leaders; it is estimated that the programme has helped around a million people to walk more in their local communities.
Why walk?
Walking is almost perfect exercise; almost everyone can do it, and you can do it anywhere and at any time; it's free, fun and it provides the opportunity to meet new friends. Walking also improves health and wellbeing; it can give you more energy, reduce stress and help you sleep better; it can also keep your heart 'strong' and help to reduce blood pressure, and it can help to manage your weight.
Where can I walk?
Follow the links below to find your local walk or contact your walk coordinator.
Darlington Doorstep Walks; contact Rachael Pringle on 01325 254370 or via Rachael.pringle@darlington.gov.uk for more information.
Redcar and Cleveland / Middlesbrough Healthy Stepping; contact Don Burluraux on 01642 77784 or via don.burluraux@nhs.net for more information.
Stepping out in Stockton; contact Steve Laskey on 01642 526692 or via stepping.out@stockton.gov.uk
Walk Finder:
To find out more about WfH and to find your nearest walk visit http://www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk/walkfinder/home or contact Kate Williams (local WfH Lead Adviser) on 07810 150936; kate.williams@naturalengland.org.uk
To read an update on the Walking for Health Project please click here.
For more information on Natural England visit www.naturalengland.org.uk
