Health walks

Health walks are short organised walks, often led by trained volunteers from the local community. Designed with health in mind they can improve both physical and mental health by offering a safe, relaxed and sociable atmosphere in which to walk.

Background information

Salford Community Leisure’s health walk scheme forms part of a national programme to help encourage and support people to become more physically active to improve their health. Health walks are led by trained volunteers and can be from 45 minutes to one hour in length. The health walks aim to promote the message of ‘doing at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on at least five days of the week’.

Health walks are perfect for those who would like to become more active or perhaps lack the confidence and knowledge about where to walk.

Physically active people have 20-30% reduced risk of premature death and up to 50% reduced risk of major chronic disease such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

By being moderately active on at least five days of the week for at least 30 minutes can also:

• Help maintain a healthy weight
• Help manage anxiety and depression
• Help lower blood pressure
• Reduce stress
• Give you more energy
• Make you feel good
• Help you to sleep better

Where are they?

Health stroll - similar to health walks but slightly slower easier paced walk / shorter length walk.

Monday

Irlam Moss
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am (one hour)
Meet: 9.45am at various places across Irlam and Cadishead
Contact: Jo Bennett on 0161 778 0559
Walk leaders: Joan, Marie, Jean, Alex, Irene, Nancy, Anita, David, Phil

Boothstown Community Centre
Time: 2.00pm to 3.00pm (one hour)
Meet: 1.45pm at Boothstown Community Centre, Stanfield Drive, Boothstown
Walk leaders: Shiela, Edna
Other information: refreshments available

Tuesday

Monton Green, Monton
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am (one hour)
Meet: 9.45am outside the Monton Unitarian Church, Monton Green
Walk leaders: Paul, Joan, David

Primrose Hill Children's Centre
Time: 1.00pm to 2.30pm (one and half hours, including activities)
Meet: 12.45pm at Primrose Hill Children's Centre, Phoebe Street, Ordsall
Walk leaders: Carlie, Renee, Laurie
Other information: refreshments available, buggy friendly, health stroll

Buile Hill Park
Time: 10.00am to 10.45am (45 minutes)
Meet: 9.45am at the front gates of compound, near the Lancashire Mining Museum
Walk leaders: Brenda, Kate, Jo
Other information: refreshments available, buggy friendly, families welcome, health stroll

Princess Park Garden Centre, Irlam
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am (one hour), monthly, first Tuesday in the month
Meet: 9.45am at the garden centre entrance, Irlam
Walk leaders: Gale, Jo
Other information: refreshments available, health stroll

Wednesday

Worsley Woods buggy walk
Time: 11.00am to 12.30pm (one and half hours, including activities)
Meet: 10.45am at Beasley Green Community Centre, Greenleach Lane
Walk leaders: Julie, Steve, Frances, Sarah, Sue
Other information: refreshments available, buggy friendly, families welcome, health stroll

Thursday

Blackleach Country Park
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am (one hour)
Meet: 9.45am at the Visitors Centre, off Bolton Road, off Hilltop Road, Walkden
Walk leaders: Derek, Phil, Shiela
Other information: refreshments available

Clifton Country Park
Time: 10.15am to 11.15am (one hour)
Meet: 10.00am at the Visitors Centre, Clifton House Road, off Manchester Road
Walk leaders: Robert, Gareth, Frances

Friday

Worsley Woods
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am (one hour)
Meet: 9.45am outside the Worsley Court House
Walk leaders: Gordon, Robert, Edna
Other information: refreshments available

Clifton Country Park buggy walk
Time: 10.00am to 11.30am (one and half hours, including activities)
Meet: 10.00am at the Visitors Centre, Clifton House Road, off Manchester Road
Walk leaders: Frances, Katherine, Nichola
Other information: refreshments available, buggy friendly, families welcome, health stroll

Victoria Park
Time: 11.00am to 12.00pm (one hour)
Meet: 10.45am at the Games hut, Victoria Park, Swinton
Walk leaders: Jill
Other information: refreshments available

Sunday

Monton Green
Time: 10.00am to 11.00pm (one hour)
Meet: 9.45am at the Unitarian Church, Monton Green
Walk leaders: Elizabeth, Sandra

To find out about public transport to these events access the GMPTE online journey planner.

Want to be a health walk leader?

We are continually looking to expand this walking programme and are looking for volunteers to lead new health walks across the city. So, if you enjoy walking and meeting people and have a little spare time why not think about being trained as a volunteer walk leader? Find out more about becoming a walk leader.

Nordic walking

A form of summer cross country ski-ing training, whereby you walk with specifically designed poles, using your upper and lower body at the same time, strengthening your back, legs and arms, and reducing neck and shoulder tension - all this while improving the health of your heart and lungs. Aimed at people who want to get more physically active.

Who to contact

Name

Jo Bennett

Address

Active Lifestyles Development Officer
Watersports Centre
15 The Quays
Salford
M50 3SQ
Map to this location

Telephone

0161 778 0559

Email

jo.bennett@scll.co.uk

This page was last updated on 10 June 2011