Natural England

Natural England awards accreditation to Warwickshire walking schemes and rewards local Walk coordinators

A special ceremony took place on Wednesday 14 May at St Peter`s Church Hall in Leamington Spa which recognised the success of Walking Schemes in Warwickshire and rewarded the efforts of volunteer Walk Leaders.

This event, organised by Warwickshire Walking Network and Natural England, was very well attended. Among those present included Ciaran Gannon, West Midlands Regional Director for Natural England, His Worshipful the Town Mayor of Leamington Spa - Councillor David Greenwood, and the Lady Mayoress - Mrs Margaret Greenwood.

The focus of the event was to award certificates to volunteer Walk Leaders in Warwickshire in order to thank them for their efforts in leading Health Walks, and to award certain walks `Walking the Way to Health - Accreditation Scheme` status. To date, the Walking the Way to Health initiative has helped create more than 500 health walk schemes and has trained more than 33,000 Walk Leaders throughout England. In Warwickshire, there are 6 accredited walking schemes and more than 200 Walk Leaders.

Angela Smith, West Midlands Green Exercise and Walking the Way to Health adviser for Natural England said:

“The aims of the accreditation programme are to set and maintain high standards for health walk schemes, to bring consistency and to reassure participants, partners and potential funders that the walks in their area are of good quality.

We cannot emphasise enough the value that our Walk Leaders bring. Without them turning up day in day out there would be no Walking the Way to Health initiative.”

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Notes to editors

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.

For more information about Natural England visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

For more information (including further pics) please contact Dean Gallen, on 01905 362987, dean.g.gallen@naturalengland.org.uk

Walking the way to Health (WHI) is the largest national body promoting and setting the standards for led health walks. It is a joint initiative between Natural England and the British Heart Foundation, with additional funding from the Big Lottery Fund. For more information visit www.whi.org.uk