Natural England - Get fit and explore the “wild side” of London
Get fit and explore the “wild side” of London
13 January 2010
Shedding the pounds and keeping fit couldn’t be easier with a whole host of greenspace to be explored across the capital this year.
Simply go to London Wildweb and type in your postcode for a list of local wild spaces close to you.
Alison Barnes, Natural England’s London Director said “London’s natural spaces offer a green oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Whether it’s through conservation volunteering with a local park, participating in a weekly health walk, or just taking time to relax in our busy lives, the capital’s natural areas provide a huge free resource to boost people’s health and well being.”
“From the red deer and green woodpeckers of Richmond Park in the west to the skylarks and water voles at Rainham Marshes in the east - London has a fantastic array of natural greenspaces for people to keep fit in and experience nature at first hand.”
In recent years, research has shown that poor diets and lack of exercise have led to increased levels of obesity, depression and heart disease amongst Londoners. To help tackle this problem, Natural England are working closely with Department of Health, NHS London and GP’s to promote exercise in the outdoors and provide people with the support they need to get active in their local greenspace through schemes such as ‘Walking for Health’
Natural England recently announced findings of the latest research from the Universities of Bristol and East Anglia which shows that - even after taking account of socioeconomic variations - people who live more than 11/4 miles away from a park are less likely to be physically active and 27% more likely to be overweight or obese. The findings reinforce earlier research conducted by Glasgow and St Andrews Universities, which found that people who live near to green spaces live longer.
In London:
3.5 million Londoners do not do enough physical activity to be healthy (NHS London).
London has higher rates of childhood obesity than other parts of the country.
The health gap is growing in London, with stark health inequalities depending on where you live. For example, Lewisham has the seventh-lowest life expectancy among London boroughs for males, and the fourth lowest for females, compared to Richmond which is among the highest.
The natural environment can help prevent, or address all of these issues and needs to be recognised in the capital as a free preventative health resource.
The benefits:
If you walk for 30 minutes a day you can burn off 2,000 calories a week (the equivalent of six Mars bars) or 150 calories per mile. That may not seem like a lot but walking and keeping fit also increases your metabolism so it’s good for you even when you’ve finished exercising.
Exercising outside can improve concentration for several hours afterwards and makes you more resilient to stress.
Your stress levels fall within minutes of contact with nature – good for body and mind.
WFH is the 'Walking For Health’ programme, it aims to get more people walking in their own communities, especially those who take little exercise or live in areas of poor health.
WFH has helped to create over 50 local health walk schemes in London and has trained more than 350 volunteer walk leaders. Since 2000, it is estimated that WHI encouraged over a million people to walk more across the country.
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Notes to Editors:
For more information, photographs or to arrange interviews please contact:
Adam Elwell (Natural England), Telephone: 0300 060 0965 or 07814501780.
Nigel Ellway (Natural England), Telephone: 0207 932 2244 or 07900608204.
Wildlife Sites in London that can be accessed by public transport
London Wetlands Centre, Richmond: The 43 hectare London Wetland Centre is one of the best urban sites in Europe to watch wildlife, an international award winning visitor attraction and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Birds you can see include Lapwing, Sedge Warbler and Little Winged Plover. You can get to the London Wetlands Centre by travelling to Hammersmith on the District, Piccadilly or Hammersmith and City Line, and then taking the Route 283 bus directly to the Wetlands Centre.
Farthing Downs, Croydon: A large area of grassland, ancient woodland and scrub on the chalky soil of the Downs, which supports a wide variety plants, birds, insects and animals. Birds you can see include Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Linnet. You can get to Farthing Downs by travelling to West Croydon using the Croydon Tram link, and then travel down to Coulsdon on the route 60.
The Chase and Eastbrookend Country Park, Barking & Dagenham: A large area of former gravel workings beside the River Rom, comprising a mosaic of grazed wetland and terrestrial habitats. The country park was restored later than the Chase, although the two sites are complementary in terms of their habitat diversity. Birds you can see include White Throat, Kingfisher and Meadow Pipit.
You can get to The Chase by travelling to Elm Park on the District Line, and then travelling on a route 252 bus to Harrow Lodge Park.Sydenham Hill Wood, Southwark: Sydenham Hill Wood forms the largest remaining tract of the old Great North Wood which once stretched from Deptford to Selhurst. The wood forms a unique mix of old woodland, Victorian garden survivors and recent woodland. Sydenham Hill Wood is home to over 200 species of trees and flowering plants including wild garlic, early dog violet and bugle. Birds you can see include Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker. You can get to Sydenham Hill Wood by travelling to Elephant and Castle Underground Station on the Northern Line, then travelling southbound on a route 363 bus.
Camley Street Natural Park, Camden: The park offers a landscape inspired by nature: a mosaic of meadow, marsh woodland and open-water habitat. These habitats are intensively managed to maintain their diverse wildlife value and include many species of birds, bees, butterflies, amphibians and a rich variety of plants. Birds you can see may include Reed Warblers and Kingfisher. You can get to Camley Street Natural Park by travelling to Kings Cross St Pancras Underground station , then travelling northbound on a route 214 bus.
Richmond Park, Richmond: Richmond Park has changed little over the centuries and, although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abounds in wildlife. The Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The royal connections to the park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign. The park is open from 7am in the summer and 7.30am in the winter, and closes at dusk all year round.
Ruislip Woods, Hillingdon: Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve is the largest block of ancient, semi-natural woodland in Greater London. Set in 726 acres, Ruislip Woods form a large complex of structurally diverse and species-rich ancient woodland. The Ruislip Woods include one of the most extensive oak/hornbeam coppice woods in southeast England. The site also includes acid and neutral grassland, ponds, streams and marshland.
Health Walks
Nearly every London Borough has a ‘Walking for Health’ scheme, please see below selection:
• Lambeth
About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.
We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.
We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.