A Walk with Sammy

This year we have an extensive programme of Special Walks. These walks are additional to our regular programme and have included a bluebell walk, a couple of walks looking at local history, a walk across the Severn Bridge and a walk to a fossil beach, as well as an evening walk in Hartpury and a walk and pub lunch at Maisemore. 

Cheryl briefing the walkers, with help from Sammy

Yesterday evening 17 of us met at Speech House Woodland car park for one of Sammy's walks along parts of the Sculpture Trail. 

Who is Sammy? He is walk leader Cheryl Mayo's lovely dog, famous for the books 'Sammy's Walks' written by Cheryl.  There is a blog which tells you more and you can see Sammy and Cheryl in the photo.

We were joined by Sammy's friend, Harley

We started by walking to the Cathedral, the beautiful stained glass window suspended in the trees. Its hard to believe it has been there for 30 years. 

We went on to visit a dozen or so other sculptures including two new ones which are well worth a visit. Details of the trail and all the sculptures can be found here. We walked for just over an hour and a half - we had lots of stops to look at sculptures! It was lovely to hear walkers from different walks getting to know each other and describing their regular walks with Forest of Dean Walking for Health, as well as discussing the sculptures. Many thanks to Cheryl and Sammy for organising the walk which everyone enjoyed very much. 

Details of all our walks can be found here, and the books of Sammy's Walks can be found on Amazon

NB In normal circumstances we don't encourage walkers to bring their dogs and ask that anyone thinking of doing so to speak to the walk leader before coming along. We do sometimes have, as in this case, dog friendly walks where well behaved dogs are very welcome.

Sandie's Story

Last summer, two regular walkers at Mitcheldean, Pam and Sandra were trained as Walking for Health Walk leaders and in September  started a brand new weekly walk in Huntley. They advertised far and wide, and here's the story of one happy walker who has joined them on their very successful walk. 

Sandie

"I saw the Walking For Health group advertised in our Huntley Parish Magazine and joined last December. I was a bit nervous as I hadn't walked any distance for almost 2 years and was worried about keeping up, but I was welcomed by Pam and Sandra,  who assured me I would be OK.

Sandie with Walk Leaders Pam (left) and Sandra (right)

On my first walk, I had to sit down half way round, but one of the walk leaders sat with me and assured me it was perfectly alright to stop and have a breather. We are a friendly group with no set pace, just enjoying being outside in the fresh air and in one another's company. I'm pleased to say my walking has much improved and I now enjoy every minute of it."

Some of the regular Huntley Walkers

Why not join Sandie and the other Huntley walkers on a Wednesday morning health walk? They meet at 10.30 at the Red Lion, North Road, Huntley GL19 3DU and return there after the walk for coffee and biscuits. You can just turn up, or call Sandra on 01452 830141 or Pam on 01452 830957 if you have any questions.

What a difference a year makes!

Last August, at our second attempt and on a very grey, wet day, a few brave people walked across the Severn Bridge. Led by Sedbury Walk Leaders Richard and Sue Skinner it was very wet to start with, though the weather did improve on the way back. 

Sue briefing us about the walk

Look - blue sky!

Last Saturday the weather was completely different and around 30 walkers met in Bulwark to embark on this latest challenge. The six mile walk, which included a lunch stop at the Boars Head in Aust, was a 'progression' walk and not a true Health Walk. 

Why did you come along today?

People had come along for different reasons - some to do something they'd always wanted to do and others as part of a personal fitness challenge. Whatever the reason, we all enjoyed our walk across this iconic bridge and visiting Aust, which is a lovely village which we usually miss when driving by. Many thanks to Sue and Richard for organising a great event.

Cake and things....

Kate presenting Kim with the award 

Earlier this year Forest of Dean Walking for Health was nominated in the Best Team Achievement category for the Ramblers President's Volunteers Awards and were voted  winners in an online poll. Local volunteer Scheme Coordinator, Kim Spencer, was presented with the award by Ramblers President, Kate Ashbrook at the end of June as Kate was unable to be at the Celebration Event, where the award was shared by all Forest of Dean Walking for Health volunteers and walkers. 

The Community Centre, Yorkley

Despite the sweltering weather of a recent mini heat wave, more than 60 Walking for Health walkers from all over the district went along to a celebration event at the lovely new Community Centre, Yorkley. They all took part in a short walk, suited to their varying abilities, before returning to the Community Centre for their AGM and celebration picnic, which included two enormous cakes (see below)!

Lining up for the official photo - "its like herding cats"

We are delighted to receive this national award which is a fantastic reflection of the effort put in by all our volunteers be they walk leaders, trainers, fund raisers, tea makers, committee members, graphic designers or admin assistants. Many of our walkers have helped out too by welcoming new walkers, and telling potential walkers all about our scheme. Thanks to our volunteers, Forest of Dean Walking for Health is going from strength to strength.

Now we are an 'Award Winning' team

Forest of Dean Walking for Health scheme have received a national award from the Ramblers in recognition of their work to promote walking for better health in the area. We started in 2007 running just three walks. Since then the scheme has flourished and last year alone over 420 walkers took part in 597 free, organised health walks in 20 different locations across the Forest of Dean district.

We were nominated for the the Best Team Achievement Award at the Ramblers President’s Volunteer Awards award by a local supporter, were shortlisted by the Ramblers president, Kate Ashbrook, and then walking enthusiasts across the country voted for the winner.  

Kate said: "We congratulate Forest of Dean Walking for Health on their award. They have developed a very well established and popular scheme in the area. Huge thanks are due to the 60 trained volunteers who organise and lead walks every week to help people enjoy the physical and mental benefits of getting more active.Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, Walking for Health is now England’s leading health walks scheme. Recognised by GPs, local councils and nurses, it plays a big role in tackling inactivity and social isolation. Our volunteers are vital to our success. Their daily efforts underpin our work in promoting healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity. I’m proud to be able to convey our thanks through the President’s Volunteer Awards.” 

Kate Ashbrook (left) presenting the award to
Scheme Coordinator Kim Spencer

We are delighted to receive this national award which is a fantastic reflection of the effort put in by all our volunteers be they walk leaders, trainers, fund raisers, tea makers, committee members or admin assistants. 

Thanks to our volunteers, Forest of Dean Walking for Health is going from strength to strength, with the number of enquiries and walkers increasing all the time. 

We are growing our links with GP practices and know that this will bring more walkers and, hopefully, more volunteers to the scheme. Above all, we want to be able to continue to offer people in our communities the chance to improve their physical and mental well-being whilst having fun and making friends.

Bridget's Volunteering Story

When Bridget Marshall decided she would like to do some volunteer work, she had no idea where this would lead. Now Bridget sees her decision as one of the best things she has done, for herself as well as for the person who’s life she has changed for the better.

It's National Volunteers Week from 1st - 7th June and this seems a good time for Bridget to tell her story.......

For some time I had wanted to do some voluntary work but had no idea how to set about it. One day I was at my local GP's surgery and picked up a leaflet - 'Change a life. Become a My Guide volunteer’ . Having read the leaflet I contacted Forest SensoryServices who, in partnership with Guide Dogs had produced it.

Bridget and Paul on a bright winter's day

When I told the person who picked up the call what I hoped to do she asked me to tell her a little about myself. So I explained that as I was now almost retired, doing only the odd day in my old job as a veterinary receptionist, I wanted to offer some help to a blind person. I told her that I was very much an outdoor person, that I loved walking in the forest - when she stopped me and said she had just the person in mind who she would like me to meet - a man in his mid 40's called Paul Davis who had almost completely lost his sight following brain tumour surgery at the age of 25, who also loved to be out walking in the forest.

A Walking for Health walk group meet at the Foxes Bridge Centre, next door to Forest Sensory Services Centre in Cinderford at 10.30 each Monday morning, but Paul was unable to go on the walks as he needed a one-to-one guide. So it was arranged for me to meet Paul the following week and to have some training at the centre to see if I would be suitable to guide him. I was a little apprehensive as I had no idea what would be expected of me but the training was easy to follow and I felt an immediate empathy with Paul and couldn't wait to try out my newly learned skills.

Part of the Cinderford walk in Linear Park 

Paul was friendly and welcoming and the following Monday we went for our first walk with the Walking for Health group, a mixed bunch of people who were benefiting from company and regular exercise. Some had recent health problems, others needed to lose a little weight or just wanted new friends to walk with under the guidance of a trained, volunteer walk leader. The group walk along easy surfaces for up to an hour, less if people can’t go quite so far, and the walks are completely free.

I can honestly say that as much as I may have enriched Paul's life, getting to know him and becoming more aware of the struggles of people with sensory problems, he has enriched mine just as much. On a recent walk one crisp but sunny winter morning I suggested we turn our faces to the sun, close our eyes and just feel the warmth on our faces - Paul then said to me "you know - if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here enjoying this" to which I replied - "you know Paul, nor would I!

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone thinking of volunteering to go ahead and see how much you can bring to your own life as well as others.

Jenny Green, Manager of Forest Sensory Services, said how pleased she is that Bridget contacted FSS to become a Volunteer Buddy.  FSS has various volunteering roles available including driving, Buddying, fundraising and Telephone Befriending.  If you can spare a couple of hours a week or a month please contact Forest Sensory Services on 01594 827711 or email forestsensoryservices@btconnect.com

Bluebells!

This year a number of our Walk Leaders have volunteered to offer some additional health walks from different start points of interest or some 'progression' walks (which means they are slightly more challenging and not under the official Walking for Health umbrella.) Here's is Barbara's account of the bluebell Health Walk. 

The sun shone for the first of our Special Summer Walks on 28th April when 50 Walking for Health walkers from all corners of the Forest of Dean gathered at Lydney Harbour.  They came from Sedbury, Newent, Bream, St Briavels, Mitcheldean, Yorkley, Cinderford and Parkend to join Lydney health walkers on a stroll through the Harbour, where major points of interest were indicated by Jenny and Richard. 

After carefully climbing 24 steps, we were soon in the woodland along Naas Cliff, surrounded by bluebells, wood anemone and stitchwort as we glimpsed the Cotswolds and Sharpness canal across the Severn.  A sharp turn inland took us past a huge field of rape and towards Naas Court, a building with medieval origins and Naas House, built in 1670.  Amazingly, both are inhabited.

In a few minutes we were back at the car park and enjoying coffee and cake at the Coffee House in Bathurst Park.  

Many thanks to all our Walk Leaders who encouraged their walkers to come along, and then donned their hi-viz jackets to ensure nobody got lost or fell off the cliff.  

Same time next year? Barbara

PS As no-one sent me any photos of bluebells I have added this photo from last year's walk in the same area! Kim

Twiddlemuffs!

I have been very remiss at updating the blog, but am hoping to make amends now I have a little more time. There's all manner of things to tell you about, but this is the most recent and I don't want to 'lose the moment'!

Do you know what a Twiddlemuff is? Well we certainly didn't until we were contacted by Lena, a Community Engagement Officer at the Forest of Dean District Council, to ask if we could make some. Lena has particular responsibility for older people and does a great deal of work for dementia sufferers and their carers as well as awareness raising in the community. And here is a photo of a couple of them.

Twiddlemuffs are a knitted hand muff with interesting bits and bobs attached inside and out. They have been designed and developed to provide simple stimulation for active hands, while promoting increased flexibility and brain stimulation. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have found that these muffs provide their patients with something to sooth restless hands and minimise agitation. 

Our walkers have taken this project to their hearts (and their fingers) and those able to knit have done so - to great effect. Those who couldn't manage to knit (and this would include me!) contributed decorations, buttons and pompoms. This week the group very proudly presented their Twiddlemuffs to Lena. 

Several other walkers have made Twiddlemuffs too and they will all be distributed during dementia awareness week to hospitals, care homes, day centres etc in the Forest of Dean District. To find out more go to FODDC Twiddlemuffs - there's still time to get knitting!

Walking with Friends

Forest of Dean Walking for Health were delighted when the Forest of Dean Ramblers asked us to join them on one of their shorter, open walks. This was a great opportunity for those who have improved their fitness by walking with Walking for Health to find out what the Ramblers walks are like and to explore the possibility of doing some longer walks as part of a different group. With Macmillan Cancer Care, the Ramblers manage the national Walking for Health scheme so working together locally makes good sense.

There were 36 of us all together and, despite the rather grey day, everyone had a great time. We are now looking forward to the next walk on New Years Day from the Woodlands Car Park at 10.00. For more information about Walking for Health contact Kim on 01594 562240, and about the Forest of Dean Ramblers talk to Barbara 01989 770976.

A Birthday Celebration

A year ago, on the 9th October,  Anne Pitman, Richard and Sue Skinner led their first Health Walk from the The Village Inn Village in Sedbury. There were just six walkers, 5 of whom were walk leaders from the scheme who had turned out to support them.

The day we risk-assesed the new walk.

Anne, Richard and Sue have worked hard to publicise their walks, frequently replacing and renewing posters in local shops, as well as writing the occasional story for the local paper and one of our blogs which was used as the basis for a national Walking for Health story on their website. You can read it here. Sue's story Being members of Singing Club Sue and Anne have persuaded several singers to join the walking group and Richard is able to promote the walk through his role as a Village Agent.

When they started out there was only one route, but in order to offer more variety to walkers there are now six different routes on offer and each week the group decide where they would like to walk. In the summer Anne, Richard and Sue organised two extra walks as part of our summer programme:

The fossil beach at Sedbury

A very wet Severn Bridge

Last Thursday 21 of their 30 registered walkers, and a dog, came along to celebrate the groups first birthday.

Sue cutting the cake

Well done Anne, Richard and Sue for making such a success of your Health Walk. Happy Birthday - and here's to next year!

What have we been up to...?

I can't believe it is four months since I last updated this blog. Where has the time gone? Well, apart from an extended holiday on my part, lots of people have been working hard behind the scenes in order to keep Forest of Dean Walking for Health going from strength to strength.

In early April, after months of drawing up draft constitutions and consulting with our walkers and walk leaders, we formed ourselves into a constituted group. This means we now have a small committee to help make decisions and run the scheme but, more importantly, it means we have our own bank account and can apply for funding from many more places.

Later in April we trained 10 new Walk Leaders. Two were existing walkers who will be helping on our current walks and the others had come to us wanting to set up walks in their communities. Here are the results of that training day so far.

An evening walk at the Arboretum - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 5.30

A Saturday walk where dogs are welcome at Wenchford - 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month at 10.00 

Another dog friendly walk every Wednesday at Mallards Pike  at 10.00, starting 11th June

A walk in St Briavels on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month from the Assembly Rooms at 2.00, starting 17th June

We still have two more to come - a lunchtime walk from FODDC offices in Coleford and a Monday walk in Cinderford from the Foxes Bridge Centre. Details of these and all our other walks can be found at by clicking here . 

In addition to these new walks, we have a summer programme of extra walks for all our walkers to enjoy. The first of these was a tour of the historic Lydney Docks with local guide Bob Turner and, yes, the heavens did open! Well done Bob and the six walkers who braved the elements. 

Our Summer Programme can be downloaded here Summer Programme . Hope to see you on one of our walks very soon.

Could you be a Walk Leader?

We are running free a Walk Leader training day on Wednesday, 16th April in Coleford. Here are some thoughts from Sue Skinner, one of our newer walk leaders, on her training and setting up a walk.

I have always enjoyed walking in the countryside and have long felt the benefits of fresh air and exercise. However, a year ago I never thought I would be leading regular health walks as a trained Walking for Health Leader in my local community, along with a group of enthusiastic friends, neighbours and brand new friends!

I had enjoyed doing a couple of health walks elsewhere in the Forest of Dean, but no-one was running a walk in my area. Thanks to encouragement from our local Scheme Co-ordinator I volunteered to train to be come a leader. This was both easy and enjoyable, and it's amazing how much more information I now have at my fingertips about why walking is so beneficial in so many ways.

A Walk Leader training session, with Sue, standing, on the left.

The only scary bit of the training was when it came to leading someone else's walk, in order to "earn my spurs" and set up my own local walk. Not to worry, I had experienced walk leaders Kim and Graham to hand to give support and encouragement - oh and yes, to present me with about 30 eager walkers to lead on a route I didn't know! This is where my brand new blue Walk for Health whistle came in handy. The walkers had been well-briefed to behave and be nice to me, so all went well and I was duly presented with my WfH certificate. Oh yes, and I have been joined by two more new walk leaders: my husband, Richard, and my friend Anne.

Kim Spencer, Scheme Coordinator, Sue Skinner, Graham Spencer (Walk Leader Trainer) and Richard Skinner
on the day we risk assessed the new walk

Our walk in Sedbury began in October last year, tentatively, as twice a month with about 4 - 6 walkers. By December there were 19 of us having a slap-up Christmas meal together in the local pub after a sunny morning health walk. So now we have decided to be bold and run walks every week, leaving the Village Inn Pub in Sedbury at 2pm every Thursday.

A January walk in Sedbury

So if any walkers are reading this and would like to become a walk leader, I really urge you to give it a go - you have nothing to lose and lots of new friends to gain.

Ring Graham Spencer on 01594 562240 to find out more about the training day.

Lunch at The Fountain

Paul Chapman, one of the regular walkers on the Bream Health Walk has sent us this. Sounds as though everyone had a good time.

It was all cheer and bon ami in Parkend's Fountain Inn where the Bream Group met for their Annual lunch.

The Fountain Inn, Parkend

Those wishing to walk arrived at 12:00 and proceeded to walk the Cannop Ponds route along the disused railway bed, now a cycle trail. It was a timed linear walk of 30 minutes returning to the Fountain Inn, I suspect, at a faster rate in anticipation of the impending feast.

Walk leaders Pam Heathcote, Anne McDonald and Len Humphries, accompanied us through the occasional shallow flood, but otherwise it was an exhilarating brisk walk. The adjacent stream which drains nearby Cannop Ponds was running high. Two days later, when my wife Joan, daughter Teena and myself found the same track inundated we had to turn back. The stream was running a very strong current.

The Cycle Trail (above) and the nearby stream

Following the meal, Len thanked everyone for coming and referred to the continued success of the Bream Walking for Health Group with special reference to Barbara, Kim and Graham, the local organisers, for their keen support. 

Finally, the staff at the Fountain received enthusiastic plaudits for the really hard work in producing and serving hot and tasty meals and ensuring the comfort and well-being of everyone. 

Well done all at the Fountain!