More Walks

Over the last month or so, despite the dreadful weather we have been having, our Walk 4 Health scheme goes from strength to strength. In the last month 323 people have walked on one or more of our 13 walks, clocking up over 300 hours between them. Details of all our walks are in our leaflet and more news is on our  Facebook Page. And can follow us on Twitter @FoDWalk4Health.

We have a new walk in Coleford every Wednesday at 10.30am. Walkers meet at the start of the Cycle Trail to Milkwall across the road from the Main Place and have a coffee in town at the end of the walk. Contact Chris Howell on  01594 836813 for more information.

Our new Coleford walk

Our Saturday walk from Mallards Pike now takes place at 10.00am every Saturday and offers a couple of walks for different abilities. Ring Margaret for more details 01594 839404.

Just back from a walk at Mallards Pike 

From Wednesday, 3rd April we shall start a new walk for the Summer (!) at Cannop Ponds. Meet by the Barbecue area at 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start. This is a one hour, flat walk suitable for all abilities.

Do come along and join us on one of our walks. You'll be made very welcome.

A trip to London

I have been invited to join the Scheme Coordinators Advisory Panel (SCAP) of the national Walking for Health scheme run by the Ramblers and Macmillan and our first meeting was last Thursday. There are 12 of us from all over the country and meetings will be held quarterly at the National Centre in London as it is the easiest place for us all to get to.

The Ramblers took over the Walking for Health scheme from Natural England almost a year ago and, to date, I have been quite critical of the time taken for them to actually deliver anything which is of use to local schemes. In the last week or so I have been very heartened by the output from the national centre both around their new branding and the new Advisory Panel. On Thursday we were discussing how to reinstate and strengthen the accreditation for local schemes and the initial discussion paper has been really well thought through and created loads of lively discussion. Sadly, we didn't have time to finish, but were all encouraged to send our thoughts by email, which I have done.

Our new Coleford walk. 10.30 every Wednesday opposite the Main Place

I am confident that the Forest of Dean Walk 4 Health scheme will continue to be accredited. We have many varied walks and dedicated volunteer walk leaders who make it the success it is. And, of course, we have an ever increasing number of walkers so we must be doing something right!