Natural England

Natural England’s ‘Walking the Way to Health Initiative’ (WHI) is celebrating a snowball success today (8 August) , having trained an impressive 30,000 volunteer walk leaders across four hundred and fifty walking schemes nationwide.

People are able to step out on walks across England, thanks to the dedication of WHI volunteers who are helping people recovering from illness or injury, who want to lose weight or those who just want to stay fit the natural way by getting out and about in the natural environment.

Dr William Bird, founder of WHI and health advisor to Natural England, said: “Inactivity is one of the biggest health challenges facing this country. Volunteer walk leaders have encouraged over a million people to take their first steps back to fitness through WHI. The natural environment has been shown to be the best motivator to keep people walking and the Walking the Way to Health Initiative, whilst reconnecting people with the natural environment, has a strong community focus - providing support and confidence.”

“The Walking the Way to Health Initiative is a success because it is fun, free and provides a long term solution for people who want to make a difference to their health. The initiative is simple and puts people on the right track for better health – but it could not be done without the enthusiasm and dedication of the volunteers.”

Tea seems to be the key to the success of a very well-attended Norfolk walking group.

Set up just three years ago, the Central Norwich group initially attracted 48 walkers in the first four months, but now takes out 200 people a week.

Mrs Carrie Kerry, Health walks co-ordinator for Central Norwich walks, said: “People were interested but it took a while to get going then, a year and a half ago, we put a teapot on the programme and the numbers rocketed!”

Anyone is welcome but the organisers do target older or more sedentary people who can become isolated. There are three levels of walk – ranging from about 20 minutes up to about an hour – and once they start people soon feel the benefits. The walkers may have physical or mental health problems, or be leading a very inactive or isolated life, and these walks offer an opportunity to socialise as well as many physical and mental health benefits. Walking in a safe environment with a group attracts lots of people, and almost 75per cent of Carrie’s walkers joined alone. A mark of the scheme’s success is the fact that one third found out about the walks through word of mouth.

Carrie said: “I always say that if people do half a dozen walks they’ll be hooked for life. The best thing is when those that struggle at the beginning see the biggest amount of benefits the quickest. Lots of people find they can come out, enjoy it and feel safe walking. It's also a good way to meet a lot of new people."

Some people have joined the walks suffering with long-term stress and depression, but have found walking has helped their recovery.

Carrie said: “This is a hugely rewarding job to do. On every single walk there’s someone there whose life you know you have made a big difference to.”

Volunteer Walk Leader training is a one day course on why walking is good for your health, how to manage a walking group, dealing with hazards and risks and how to motivate people to walk more. More information can be found at www.whi.org.uk

Ends:

For further information please contact Helen Payn on 01733 455131 or helen.payn@naturalengland.org.uk or the Natural England press office on: 0845 603 9953 or e-mail pressoffice@naturalengland.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

WHI

WHI is the 'Walking the way to Health Initiative' and it aims to get more people walking in their own communities, especially those who take little exercise or live in areas of poor health.

WHI is an initiative of the British Heart Foundation and Natural England. It benefitted from extra funding from the Big Lottery Fund. WHI has helped to create 450 local health walk schemes across England and has sister schemes in Scotland and Wales. Since 2000, it is estimated that we've encouraged over a million people to walk more.

The majority of WHI health walk schemes have their own web page on the WHI Walk Finder, displaying details of their walks and how to get involved. More information on WHI can be found at www.whi.org.uk

Dawn Vernon Associates are the training team who have been delivering all this training since 2000.

Natural England

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.