News

March 18, 2008

WALKS TO HELP RESIDENTS STEP UP HEALTHY LIFESTYLES HAREGATE

Residents are being given the chance to step up their health and fitness by joining a new weekly walk.

Moderately paced half-hour routes taking in fresh air and scenic countryside will launch at 2pm on Wednesday, 27 March from Haregate Community Centre, and will continue free of charge every week.

The walks are the first activities of the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council-co-ordinated Walk to Water project - a £90,000 scheme funded by government body Natural England's Green Exercise Programme.

Project co-ordinator Laura Stanley said: "We'll be walking a variety of routes, all less than two miles long. They will leave the community centre and will take in a number of scenic areas, including Brough Park and The Waste - an area of wooded paths near to Buxton Road.

"Residents are very welcome to attend - we're looking to attract people who don't jog or go to a gym and want to either maintain or improve their fitness. Residents who just want to get out for a few hours and meet new people are also equally welcome.

"We want to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise and make friends. It can make a real difference to people's lives as walking short distances on a regular basis has been shown to maintain and improve people's health and wellbeing.

"No specialist equipment is needed, just flat comfortable shoes and a coat in case of rain. All routes are risk assessed and safe for most levels of fitness."

There is no need to book on the walks - residents are advised to just turn up a few minutes before the start, and routes will be followed by free tea and coffee in the community centre.

The Walk to Water project is dedicated to providing free green exercise activities for Haregate residents over three years, and in the coming months many more initiatives will be provided. The scheme will develop a path from Tittesworth Avenue to Tittesworth Reservoir. Haregate Residents Association and mental health groups Rethink and Borderland Voices will help with the project, and a small grant scheme will be available for local groups to help residents improve their health through physical activity. North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust played a key role in helping secure the funding and Severn Trent Water, which owns part of the land, will carry out track improvements. Stafforshire County Council also helps maintain the footpath.

Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: "Walk to Water is the first project to be given Green Exercise Programme funding and is the only project to be approved for the entire West Midlands region. The application process was rigorous and lasted more than a year.

"The walks are the first of a number of exciting initiatives for Haregate. We want to give people a real opportunity to improve their health and fitness and will be making walking routes more accessible to more groups of people. We will also be encouraging more people to be involved in outdoor activities in their community.

"The amount of physical activity district residents do is woefully low compared to national recommendations. Haregate is home to more than 1,500 people and we want as many residents as possible to take part."

For more information contact Laura Stanley on 01538 483463 or email laura.stanley@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk.