NEWS RELEASE
PR 1693
For Immediate
Release
2 April 2004
Why not walk this spring?
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
LOCAL residents and visitors to the
area are being encouraged to go out and about and enjoy the spring
sunshine with the help of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Why
not Walk booklet.
The booklet features nine walks
within the parks and gardens of Bath and is available from various
outlets including GP surgeries, libraries and tourist information
centres.
It aims to provide information for
independent walkers and shows measured and graded walks with advice
on accessibility.
Further leaflets are planned in a
similar format to cover other areas of Bath & North East Somerset.
In addition, the Council’s Walking
for Life project has recently expanded locally with support from B&NES
Primary Care Trust enabling 13 new volunteers to be trained to lead
walks throughout the area.
Two walks currently take place
weekly from Park House in Oldfield Park and St.Mary’s Close in
Timsbury. These are quite short in distance and the pace varies to
suit those who attend.
Both groups have reported benefits
in terms of health, social contact and feelings of support amongst
those who attend.
Sue Green, Health Development
Officer, said: “Physical activity is one of the cornerstones of a
healthy lifestyle yet six out of ten men and seven out of ten women
in England are not active enough to benefit their health.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council
hopes to promote health and well-being within the area by
encouraging people to go out and enjoy their local environment.”
Joyce Poulton, Project Worker, said:
“We are delighted that the Walking for Life scheme is expanding.
“These walks often provide the only
opportunity for members of the group to go out and meet up with
friends and neighbours. The social aspect is as important and we
feel that the health and wellbeing benefits are hugely positive.”
Notes to Editors:
Members of the Walking for Life
steering group will be available to be photographed on Tuesday,
April 6 at 2.30pm at Trimbridge House in Bath.
The Walking for Life project has now
been in existence for almost two years. There are two elements to
the project – the independent walks in the Why Not Walk booklet and
the led walks. Trained volunteer walk leaders lead the regular walks
from Park House, Hiscocks Drive, Oldfield Park and St Mary’s Close,
Timsbury.
The Department of Health (DOH)
recommends for adults at least 30 minutes of physical activity on
five or more days of the week. This physical activity should be of
at least a moderate intensity – similar to brisk walking. Activity
can be taken in bouts of 10 to 15 minutes, allowing for accumulation
of activity throughout the day.
The DOH advises that there is
substantial evidence to support the role of physical activity in
promoting good health. Regular physical activity decreases the risk
of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes and associated risk
factors such as hypertension and obesity.
For further information please
contact:
Sue Green, Health Development
Officer, on Tel: 01225 477562 or e-mail sue_green@bathnes.gov.uk
Joyce Poulton, Project Officer -
Walking for Life, on Tel: 01761 471265
For comment, contact:
Cllr Vic Pritchard, Executive Member
for Housing and Community Safety, on Tel:01275 333159 or e-mail
vic_pritchard@bathnes.gov.uk
Issued by: Bath & North East
Somerset Press Office, tel 01225 477827 or 477283, email:
pressoffice@bathnes.gov.uk |
