On Saturday 20th May, Birmingham residents are invited to put their best foot forward and celebrate National Walking Month with ‘One Big Walk in the Park’ – a series of fun, free walking activities hosted by ParkLives and Birmingham City Council.
The event will take place from 2.30 – 3.30pm at Lickey Hills Country Park, with some unusual activities for all the family. Scheduled for the afternoon is a guided walk with park rangers called ‘Myths, tales and fairies: stories of the woods’, a nature trail, and Japanese forest bathing, which helps participants explore the mental and physical health benefits of being among trees. All the activities are completely free of charge.
Birmingham is one of 10 cities nationwide taking part in the ‘One Big Walk in the Park’ initiative, which will see a series of walks hosted in cities from Dundee to Southampton throughout the day.
Gaynor Roberts, ParkLives Programme Manager at Birmingham City Council, said:
Walking is a brilliant way to get active, and what better time to take part than on National Walking Month? So many of us don’t take advantage of walking through the amazing green spaces our city has to offer and we’re hoping to inspire the people of Birmingham to incorporate leisurely and social walking into their routine through ParkLives’ ‘One Big Walk in the Park’.
Steve Hinton, Park Ranger at Lickey Hills Country Park, adds:
It can be hard for people to find time to enjoy their local parks, but something as simple as going out for walk can be a great way to spend more time outdoors as well as staying active. Our walking sessions led by Friends of Lickey Hills on Thursday mornings are always very popular with local residents and I’m hoping that ‘One Big Walk in the Park’ at Lickey Hills Country Park this Saturday will encourage more people to get involved.
Now in its fourth year in Birmingham, ParkLives runs in 10 cities nationwide and is part of a £20 million commitment by Coca-Cola Great Britain to invest in community-based programmes. Activities are delivered by teams from Birmingham City Council and are designed to help to bring communities together and improve wellbeing.
Liz Lowe, ParkLives lead at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said:
We offer so many activities through ParkLives, but you really can’t beat a good walk in the park! Whether you take a stroll to relax, bring the dog with you, or take on a challenge like Nordic walking, a walk in the park can be good for the mind, body and soul. We hope that our ‘One Big Walk in the Park’ initiative helps more people in Birmingham – and people across the country –enjoy walking in their local parks more often.
To join ParkLives One Big Walk in the Park, visit parklives.com to book a place, or simply turn up on the day. The meeting point is the Vistor Centre, Warren Lane at 2.30pm.