Natural England

Congratulations to Active Somerset walks who have been awarded accreditation by Walking the way to Health, a joint initiative between Natural England and the British Heart Foundation.

Active Somerset walks recently became an accredited scheme, having successfully demonstrated that they meet the required criteria. This includes offering led walks for beginners, meeting the “Walking the way to Health” safety and insurance standards for all walks and collecting basic monitoring information.

As an accredited scheme, Active Somerset walks will benefit from being seen as part of a nationally evaluated scheme as well as being formally recognised by health professionals, prospective partners and funders.

Mark Owen, Active Lifestyles Officer for Tone Leisure and scheme co-ordinator for Active Somerset walks says,
“To receive a nationally recognised accreditation gives Active Somerset walks a higher profile and more credibility in encouraging people to become more physically active for the benefit of their health.”

William Bird, Strategic Health Advisor for Natural England says,
“The new accreditation scheme has been essential in ensuring high standards across the WHI network and providing frontline health professionals with added confidence when referring their patients on.”

Active Somerset walks welcomes new walkers throughout the year. If you’d like to walk with Active Somerset walks or train as a Walking the way to Health Volunteer Walk Leader please contact the Scheme Co-ordinator, Mark Owen, on 01823 273088 or m.owen@toneleisure.com

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Notes for editors

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1. To find out about other health walks in Taunton, please contact your regional Walking the way to Health Case Officer, Melissa Day on 01823 273084 or m.day@toneleisure.com

2. Walking the way to Health (WHI)
Walking the way to Health 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.

WHI aims to get more people walking in their own communities, especially those who take little exercise or live in areas of poor health. The initiative has helped to create 525 local health walk schemes across England and has trained over 33,000 Volunteer Walk Leaders. We support schemes through training for walk leaders, advice on setting up a new scheme, insurance, evaluation and free leaflets to help promote walking.

Our health walks are free to participants and provide an easy way of getting regular exercise. There is compelling evidence of the benefits of moderate physical activity. Those who exercise enjoy greater life expectancy with reduced risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colonic cancer and osteoporosis. Walking can also be a catalyst for connecting people with many other aspects of health, such as healthy eating, stopping smoking and relaxation.

Many WHI health walk schemes have their own web page on the WHI Walk Finder, displaying details of their walks and how to get involved. www.whi.org.uk

3. Natural England
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. www.naturalengland.org.uk

4. For more information about this press release please contact Dot Isgrove on 01823 281803 or 07880 784757