National charity Living Streets is encouraging people in Stone to hit the streets and swap four wheels for two feet for National Walking Month in May.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are expected to put their best feet forward during Walk to Work Week and Walk to School Week, which are part of the national charity’s annual flagship event aimed at raising awareness of the many benefits of walking.
This year the charity will be focusing on the many health benefits of walking and the difference it can make to the health of our nation.
Living Streets’ champion’s pedestrians and campaigns for safe, attractive streets where people want to walk. National Walking Month is an opportunity for people to give walking a go, at least for part of their journey, to raise the issue of walking and highlighting the need to make it safer and easier for all.
Walking is the cheapest, simplest and one of the most effective forms of exercise. Walking for just 20 minutes a day can transform fitness levels, improve health and reduce stress and anxiety. It’s also good for the economy. Investing in a well-maintained public realm and creating an attractive walking environment has been shown to boost footfall on the high street by up to 40%.
This year the Living Streets website is packed with expert tips, inspiring stories and podcasts making it easy to take that first step during National Walking Month. Workplaces and individual employees can register for Walk to Work Week, from May 11-15, log their walks, compete with colleagues, check out the CO2 saved and see how many calories they’ve walked off. Walk to School Week, from 18–22 May, will encourage families to try the school run on foot and see how much less stressful and healthier it can be.
Walking just 20 minutes a day can make all the difference to how a person feels both physically and emotionally,” said Living Streets Chief Executive Joe Irvin. “If everyone in England walked for just 20 minutes a day we would save 137,000 lives and save the economy billions of pounds. We want to remind people of this fact and celebrate the many benefits of travelling on foot. National Walking Month is a great opportunity to celebrate all things walking.”
Let us know how your workplace or school is marking Walk To Work Week and Walk To School Week. Leave a comment below or email jamie@alittlebitofstone.com
There are lots of walks in this year’s Stafford Borough Walking Festival, which runs until 10th May. Details on our site HERE
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