Walk Week 2008

What is walk week?

Greater Nottingham's Walk Week began in 2006 as an annual celebration of walks, and aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to walk more in their daily lives. Walk Week is organised by a team of partners including:

• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Nottingham City Council
• Nottingham University Hospitals
• Catherine Hughes (Nordic walking instructor and personal trainer)
• Primary Care Trusts
• Get Moving Nottingham
• Shape Up Notts
• Nottingham Trent University
• Broxtowe Borough Council
• The Big Wheel.

What happened this year?

This year's Walk Week ran from Saturday 17th May 2008 to Monday 26th May (Bank Holiday Monday) 2008. All walk week walks and taster sessions were free and every registered participant received a free gift and details of events to encourage more walking in the future!

Some of the highlights of this year's Walk Week included:

Sunday 18th May

Over 40 participants put their best feet forward to raise money for the National Association of Crohns and Colitis (www.nacc.org.uk) with a sponsored walk through Sherwood Forest. Organiser Joan Hughes said, “last year it was a lower profile event but by teaming up with walk week we’ve had a lot more interest, and been able to reward participants with free gift”.

Monday 19th May

“Harry the Heart” and “Skippy the Kangaroo” enjoyed a day of celebration in Old Market Square, promoting health and wellbeing. Information stalls packed with free advice, maps and goodies ran alongside a series of short walks in the City to mark the launch of Nottinghamshire City Councils new “walk pack”. There were also Nordic walking taster sessions and a chance to sign up for other walk week events.

Monday 19th - Friday 23rd May

Walk week coincided with National Walk to School Week; an initiative that encourages parents and their children to walk to school together. Plenty of primary and junior schools in Notts got involved, offering stickers and prizes to the children. “It makes youngster a lot more alert in the classroom when they’ve walked to school”, says coordinator Natasha Mellors, “and improves their road safety skills”.

Wednesday 21st May

Walk to Work Day!  It was difficult to beat Steve Sankey’s effort from last year’s Walk on Wednesday, when he set off in the early hours to walk in excess of 20 miles to get to County Hall by 8.30am. But this year, the best effort came in the form of Jan Punter on Wednesday 21st May – not only did he walk from his home in the Vale of Belvoir (around 12 miles) but he also walked home again in the evening, AND agreed to be filmed, photographed and interviewed on all sorts of media. Fortunately for Jan, there were refreshments and rewards (and a kangaroo) waiting for participants.

Thursday 22nd May

Pushy Mothers are a group of new mums who take regular exercise with their buggies to get some fresh air and back in shape. Following advice and exercises with instructor Vanessa Gretton. A group of new mums met in walk week for a free taster session in Woodthorpe Park. “It’s about getting out of the house and meeting new mums as much as taking exercise and getting rid of the post pregnancy bulge,” says Vanessa. “The taster session was for anyone curious to try out a class and hopefully sign up to come along regularly”.

Sunday 25th May

There was fun for all the family at Rushcliffe Country Park with beginner orienteering and Nordic Walking taster sessions. LBeginners learnt the basics of orienteering and tried it for themselves on a short course at Rushcliffe country park. It was all free and every participant received a walk week gift.

We also encourage people to find walks taking place in their area.  You can find walks in your area on the Walking for Health Initiative website.
The Best Foot Forward and Taking Steps programmes both offer free led walks every day of the week around Greater Nottingham.  These include:

Mondays

• Mary Potter Walk -
  A weekly short walk in the Hyson Green area walking along the Forest and sometimes into the Arboretum. Meet 10.30am every Monday at the Mary Potter Health Centre. Volunteer Walk Leaders = Colin & June.

Tuesdays

• 30 minute walk around Wilford Circular.  Meet at Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road in the reception to start at 10.30am.
• Canal Walk
  A weekly short walk along Nottingham Canal every Tuesday afternoon at 2pm. Meeting point at the ˜Exchange Diner', off Queens Drive, Castle Marina. Volunteer Walk Leader = Mary.

Wednesdays

• Approximately 50 minute walk around Rushcliffe Country Park, Ruddington - meet at the Education Centre to start at 10.30am.
• Clifton Walk
  A weekly short walk in the Clifton area every Wednesday at 10am, meet at the front entrance to Clifton Leisure Centre. Volunteer Walk Leaders = Lindsay & Roy
• Melbourne Park, Aspley
  A new walk around Melbourne Park, Aspley. Meet 10.30am every Wednesday at the Aspley Centre, Melbourne Park, Melbourne Road Entrance. Volunteer Walk Leader = Brian Sweetland (07855410695).
• Wollaton Park Walk
  A weekly walk in Wollaton Park, every Wednesday at 12pm. Meeting point is at Wollaton Park, 1st car park, Wollaton Road entrance. Volunteer Walk Leaders = Mick & Stewart.

Thursdays

• Mary Potter Walk
  A weekly short walk in the Hyson Green area every Thursday at 10.30am, meet at the Mary Potter Health Centre. Usually a visit for refreshments at the Bridge Community Centre follows the walk. Volunteer Walk Leaders = Colin & Sue.

Fridays

• Approximately 50 minute walk around Cotgrave Country Park meet at the Rose and Crown pub to start at 2pm.
• Old Basford Walk
  A weekly short walk in the Old Basford area every Friday at 10.30am, meet at the Garage on Mill Street. Walk Leader = Christine Adams on 0115 942 0323.

Saturdays

• Bulwell River Leen Walk
  A weekly walk along the River Leen every Saturday afternoon. Meet at 1.50pm at the railway station car park at the footbridge. Volunteer Walk Leader = Brian Sweetland (07855410695)

Read more about Walk Week 2007

Contact info@walkweek.org for further information.