Natural England

Natural England, the champion for the natural environment, wants those heading off on Boxing Day walks and setting New Year resolutions to be more active and make use of London’s great outdoors by joining the ‘Outdoor Gym’ in 2008.

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, said: “Walking for pleasure shouldn’t be saved for once a year. Parks, rights of way and London’s unique wildlife and landscapes are all there to be enjoyed and the views are substantially better than those you get from a treadmill. What’s more, they’re often free.”

Earlier this year, Natural England announced that 31,500 walk leaders have been trained to help encourage people to get active and stay active in the outdoors through its ‘Walking the Way to Health Initiative’ (WHI), a scheme open and available to all.

Dr William Bird, Natural England’s health adviser, said: “It’s been shown that the great outdoors is the best motivator to keep people walking and active. It’s also the easiest form of exercise to make part of your daily routine and the significant effect it can have on reducing or coping with stress really can make a difference to peoples’ lives.”

Natural England’s 10 reasons why you should Join the Outdoor Gym:

• Walking in your local park or in the great outdoors available on your doorstep is one of the greenest way to exercise as it doesn’t leave a carbon footprint
• The outdoors also provides great opportunities for wildlife spotting - join the two million people who have used the Natural England and BBC website which provides links to great places to walk and explore near you - all you need is your postcode. Visit www.naturalengland.org.uk and click on ‘Breathing Places’
• Exercising outside can improve concentration for several hours afterwards and makes you more resilient to stress or helps cope with stress
• £2.9 billion has been assigned to environmental schemes in the countryside between now and 2013. This is your money being used for environmental benefits – get out there and enjoy it!
• 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’re not doing it
• Your stress levels fall within minutes of contact with nature – good for body and mind
• Walking crosses all generations and everyone can get involved. Research has shown that if children haven’t had the opportunity to be in the natural environmental on their own before the age of 11 they’re unlikely to use it in later life and therefore benefit from the stress relieving qualities the outdoors can bring
• Walking protects our joints from wear and tear thanks to muscle build-up
• Wherever you are in England, you are never more than 50 miles from a National Trail
• Walking improves your immune system for up to 24 hours after a walk which can help prevent you from catching a cold

Natural England’s London team has put together a selection of great places to explore in the great outdoors wherever you live and some walks that you can join between Christmas and New Year’s Day. A selection of walks is attached below.

For more information and for a list of WHI walks visit www.naturalengland.org.uk and click on the Breathing Places website or visit www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk for more maps of walks in your region, listed under the Things to Do section.

Why not get out and walk in your nearest London park?

Wildweb aims to encourage people to make the most of London's wild places by exploring them online first and then getting out and experiencing them first hand. Visitors to the site are able to search for information on nature sites across London (with detailed information for those interested in biodiversity and wild landscapes), listen to the sounds of local wildlife, navigate the interactive maps and access travel information for their chosen green area. www.london.gov.uk/wildweb

Ends

Notes to editors

For London journalists requiring more information and to set up interviews with Dr William Bird please contact Nigel Ellway on 07900 608204

For further information please contact the Natural England Press Office on 0845 603 9953, out of hours 07970 098005, email: press@naturalengland.org.uk.

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.

LONDON WALKS

Newham Striders
Saturday 29th - Wanstead Park, London Borough of Waltham Forest. Walk starts at 9.00am. (Sharp) Meet at St Mary's Church, St Mary's Avenue, Wanstead. E12. This walk is for the more experienced regular walker. The walk last for two & half hours. These walks take place on parkland and grass, so you are advised to wear waterproof shoes. This walk is led by three experienced walk leaders.

This walk is completely free of charge, unless there is a need to use public transport to or from the various locations and you do not have a free travel pass.
Please arrive ten minutes early to register.
For further information, Please contact Bob Bircheno on: 07950186137

Angel Walks
Lost for things to do in London? Find out what Islington was like hundreds of years ago. Get the sense of living history and walk in the footsteps of those famous people who lived there. Trace Joe Orton's Islington history. Stand in George Orwell's back-garden and have your photo taken in the spot he chose to be photographed in; or, just simply come on the Islington Village Walks, in order to get to know the area!

Tuesday 25th (Christmas Day)
George Orwell's Islington
Meeting Point: Highbury & Islington Station
Start: 10:30 Tickets: £6 (£5 concs)

Wednesday 26th (Boxing Day)
An Islington Village Walk
Meeting Point: Angel Tube Station
Start: 10:30 Tickets: £6 (£5 concs)
Please note: Meeting Point for this walk has changed due to boxing day closure of the Victoria Line.

Tuesday 1st of January (New Years Day)
An Islington Village Walk
Meeting Point: Highbury & Islington Station
Start: 10:30 Tickets: £6 (£5 concs)
For more information / reservations, please call Peter Powell on: 020 7226 8333 or 07796 673 846 (mobile). You can also reserve your place by emailing walkbookings@angelwalks.co.uk

Havering Health Walks
Harrow Lodge Park Health Walk
Thursday 27th December 2007
Meet at 10.00 am
Meet at 1st Car Park at Sports Centre, Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Road
Take bus number 248, 365 or 193

Eastbrookend Country Park Health Walk
Friday 28th December 2007
Meet at 10:15 am
Meet at Millennium Centre, Dagenham Road, Romford
Take bus number 174

Central/Dagennam Park
Sunday 30th December 2007
Meet at 10:30 am
Meet at Central Park Swimming Pool Car Park, Harold Hill
Take bus number 256, 294 or 174