Get Walking Keep Walking » Urban Walking http://www.getwalking.org Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:17:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Walk4Life Day http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk4life-day/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk4life-day/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:29:33 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=5954 On Sunday 25th September the Ramblers hosted a very successful Walk4Life Day event in Firth Park, Sheffield. Approx. 250 people of all ages came out to walk 1 mile around Firth Park in dry weather. The walkers included local people, Get Walking Keep Walking participants and volunteers, local Ramblers group and 20s and 30s group members, Walking Out walkers, a Scout group and a group of Mums and pushchairs. All walkers sported yellow Walk4Life T Shirts. We even had a dog in a T-Shirt!

There were speeches by Helen Judge, Coordinator of Get Walking Keep Walking in Sheffield and Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health NHS Sheffield who both spoke about the health benefits of walking. Local Councillor Alan Law spoke about the Journeys to Hidden Places arts project – a great collaborative effort. To finish off the speeches veteran Ramblers member John Bunting, who was involved in campaigning for access to the countryside since the 1930s, encouraged everyone to get out and make the most of the Peak District on our doorstep.

We started off with a lively Zumba dance warm up, which got everyone moving. The walk took in some of the art works which were part of Journey to Hidden Places including Giant Hands and the soon to be completed Ripples in the Pond wetlands area. We were welcomed back from the walk by African Drummers and then everyone took part in various activities – more Zumba, children’s wildlife activities organised by Sheffield Wildlife Trust and Sheffield City Council Rangers and 36 people continued onto a 5 mile walk up to Wincobank Hill and Woolley Woods – exploring more of the Journeys to Hidden Places art works.

Click here to see the Calendar News report on the event!
And also here for an interview with Get Walking Keep Walking volunteer Maureen Hancock and Project coordinator Helen Judge

Photos of the event are also on our Facebook page

A huge thank you from the Ramblers to everyone who attended and supported the event including Dave Rice, Errol, Darren and Peter at the First Start centre who were enormously helpful, Friends of Firth Park, Jeremy Wight, Councillor Alan Law, John Bunting, Dawn Lockley, Chris Fox of Fox Audio, Christine Ventour – Zumba Instructor, the African Drummers, Mark Hible of Sheffield Wildlife Trust and Tom Broadhead (Sheffield Rangers), Penny Rea (Friends of Wincobank Chapel) and not least all our wonderful Get Walking Keep Walking volunteers who helped out on the day and also beforehand stuffing all those bags with goodies.

Get Walking, Keep Walking!

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk4life-day/feed/ 2 ITV Walk 4 Life Day Sheffield http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-4-life-day-sheffield/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-4-life-day-sheffield/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:07:08 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=5508 The Ramblers is proud to be taking a leading role in helping to lift the nation to its feet with a series of events taking place across the country on Walk4Life Day.

Join ITV and the Ramblers on Sunday 25th September for Sheffield’s ITV Walk4Life Day; a 1 mile walk starting from Firth Park, First Start Building at 11am. The walk will start off with a Zumba warm up! Our speakers on the day are Dr Jeremy Wight – Director of Publ…ic Health in Sheffield and Councillor Alan Law plus other special guests. Bring your family and friends to this FREE event and take those first steps to a healthier lifestyle.

Firth Park has recently seen an exciting creative arts project and the 1 mile walk will take in some of the new art pieces and the brand new wetland area. You will also be able to pick up your copy of the new ‘Journey’s to Hidden Places’ map to explore Firth Park even more. Cafe and toilets available in Firth Park.

After the 1 mile walk choose from:
A half hour Zumba taster session with Christine Ventour
Dragonfly making, a trail and clay modelling activites with the Rangers and Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
A 5 mile walk will leave at 12 noon from the First Start building to explore the other art works on the Journeys to Hidden Places map – including Brendan’s Glove Garden, Wincobank Hill and Woolley Woods. Please wear suitable shoes and bring a raincoat.

For more information please contact Helen Judge or Ruth Thomas on 0114 205 3954 or 07979693095 or Email: ruth.thomas@ramblers.org.uk

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-4-life-day-sheffield/feed/ 0 Crabtree Ponds Family Activity Walk – Thursday 27th October http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/crabtree-ponds-family-activity-walk/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/crabtree-ponds-family-activity-walk/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:43:19 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=5275 Come and find out how walking is: fun, healthy, safe, green and an adventure! Meet at the Crescent Community Centre, Firshill Crescent at 12 noon on Thursday 27th October
After getting your free step counters and walking log book at the centre, we will go for a guided walk through Little Roe Woods and then down to Crabtree Ponds to join Sheffield Wildlife Trust for their Willow Fish & Twizzling Eels Craft Activity.
Those that wish can walk back up to the Community centre with us afterwards. NB. The walk involves steps and is not pushchair accessible
All Welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Some free refreshments, but bring your own packed lunch! Free stepcounters! Other free Get Walking goodies!
For more information call Ruth on 07979693095 or 0114 2053954

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/crabtree-ponds-family-activity-walk/feed/ 0 Sing along and Get Walking! http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/sing-along-and-get-walking/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/sing-along-and-get-walking/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:57:55 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=5009 Want to know about the benefits of walking – then find out the fun way by listening to our Get Walking song! Just click here to listen: Get Walking Song

Peter Gilbert explains how he came up with the idea, “I was doing some work in The Get Walking Keep Walking office and got into a conversation about publicity and raising awareness. I immediately thought that maybe a song would help in some way to gain media exposure and so I set to work trying to put something together. I wanted to create something that was musically energetic combined with words that expressed the aims of GWKW. I came up with something and recorded it on my little home recorder. I sent a copy to the GWKW office and to my delight they liked it and thought it was just what they were looking for.

The next task was to enlist the help of some musicians and singers and gain access to a recording studio. This I was able to do thanks to the enthusiasm and co-operation of a variety of people in and around Sheffield. Then we set about rehearsing and recording the song which after various sessions was completed by the end of July 2010. The final result is I hope something that you can sing along with, feel energised by and be encouraged to lead a happy healthy and active lifestyle.

Get Walking Keep Walking Peter Gilbert (2010)
Get walking, keep walking, Let’s put a little bit of thought in
To how we’re living,
The life we’re given, today (Hey! What do you say?)

Get walking, keep walking
It’s free; make friends, do some talking
You won’t regret
A single footstep you take

Chorus 1: Get walking, Keep walking. Get walking , Keep walking my way

Bridge Don’t put it off till tomorrow
Let’s get it on today
Lead from the front or just follow
And you will find, your body and mind will say
‘Hey I needed that!’

Get walking keep walking
Be happy, healthy out there exploring
Just thirty minutes
Works wonders you’ll see

Chorus 2: Get walking,Keep walking. And you will find your body and mind will say ‘Hey I needed that!’

Get walking, keep walking
Let’s put a little bit of thought in
To how we’re living,
The life we’re given, today (Hey! What do you say?)

Chorus 3: Get walking, Keep walking

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/sing-along-and-get-walking/feed/ 0 Roe Woods Family Activity Walk http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/roe-woods-family-activity-walk/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/roe-woods-family-activity-walk/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 15:37:33 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=4905 Come and Join Get Walking Keep Walking for this family walk.
Wednesday 1st June 2011 from 2pm – 4.30pm
Meet at the Crescent Community Centre, Firshill Crescent at 2pm

All Welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

After a short introduction with story and games at the centre, we will go out to explore Roe Woods with more fun activities on the way.

Come and find out how walking is: fun, healthy, safe, green and an adventure!

Free refreshments! Free stepcounters! Other free Get Walking goodies!

For more information call Ruth on 07979693095 or 0114 2053954

NB. The walk is on fairly bumpy off road paths but is pushchair accessible

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/roe-woods-family-activity-walk/feed/ 0 Walk to Work with us on Wednesday 18th May http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-to-work-with-us-on-wednesday-18th-may/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-to-work-with-us-on-wednesday-18th-may/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 07:29:03 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=4841 Get Your Day off to a good start next Wednesday 18th May.
If you live in Hillsborough, Upperthorpe, Crookes or Hunters Bar areas why not join us to Walk to Work? We will take you on a direct route following through some green spaces and you can enjoy some company and get walking information on the way.
All the walks will finish at the University of Sheffield concourse (outside Students Union) at 8.30am where a free breakfast snack and hot drinks will be provided.
The start points for the walks are:
7.30am at Hillsborough Tram stop (Leader: Ruth Thomas)
7.45am at Hunters Bar (by Endcliffe Park entrance) (Leader Claudia Morris)
8.00am at Zest Community Centre, Upperthorpe (Leader Ruth Thomas)
8.30am at the Punchbowl Pub, Crookes (Leader:Steve Gregory)

To book a place to guarantee your breakfast and for further details, please contact Ruth Thomas on 0114 2053954 or 07979 693095, or ruth.thomas@ramblers.org.uk.
All are welcome to attend.
These walks are in partnership with the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Can’t make this walk? Then try another in the Walk Sheffield Festival – see the Walk Sheffield Leaflet here

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-to-work-with-us-on-wednesday-18th-may/feed/ 0 Walk Sheffield – Sheffield’s Own Walking Festival, 14th – 22nd May 2011 http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-sheffield-sheffields-own-walking-festival-14th-22nd-may-2011/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-sheffield-sheffields-own-walking-festival-14th-22nd-may-2011/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:10:28 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=4188 Don’t miss Sheffield’s own annual walking festival – Walk Sheffield which runs from 14th – 22nd May this year. There are numerous easy organised walks around the city that you can join in for free. Just turn up on the day and an experienced walk leader will take everyone on varied and interesting routes around the city.

The walks are different lengths and range from easy strolls to more challenging hikes and some have special themes such as views, history or nature. With all areas of Sheffield, day time, evening and weekend walks included, you are bound to find one to suit you. The walk leaders are from some of the many different walking groups which regularly organise walks in the Sheffield area – so attending a walk would be also be a good way too to find out about new walking groups too.

In total there are 37 walks over the period (14 May – 22 May) plus the launch walk on the 9th May. For the full itinerary pick up a Red leaflet from libraries, tourist information and community centres or Click here to view the programme online.

A selection of the festival walks which are being organised by Get Walking Keep Walking and our volunteers are below. If you’ve been on one of our walking programmes or met us at an event, there may well be some faces you recognise on the walks.

May 15: Hilltops to Waterways to Parks: A 7-mile walk from Arbourthorne tram stop to the Botanical Gardens via the canal, River Don, Ponderosa and Weston Park. Start 10am Arbourthorne tram stop; 11am Ponds Forge tram stop; 12.30pm Infirmary Road tram stop; finish Botanical Gardens 2pm. Do the whole walk or join part way. No pets. Book ahead. Lunch stop.

May 16: The Secret Valley: A 4-mile country walk through parkland, ancient woodland and a beautiful hidden valley. Start 10am from Woodhouse railway station. Finish at Darnall. Coffee stop. Leader: Rob Haslam. roberthaslam0@googlemail.com 0114 2879466.

May 17: Barns and Bluebells: A 4-mile walk circular walk from Meadowhall Interchange through Concord Park and Woolley Wood, the finest bluebell wood in Sheffield. Coffee stop includes a guided tour of the 17th Century Cruck barn in Concord Park. Start 10am. Leader: Rob Haslam. roberthaslam0@googlemail.com 0114 2879466.

May 18: Walks to Work: A series of 1-hour walks finishing at the University of Sheffield concourse. Book ahead. No pets. Includes free breakfast snack. Starts – 7.30am Hillsborough tram stop. 8am Zest Community Centre. 8am The Punchbowl, Crookes. 7.45am Endcliffe Park/Hunters Bar.

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/walk-sheffield-sheffields-own-walking-festival-14th-22nd-may-2011/feed/ 0 Lunchtime Walks with AQA in Hulme http://www.getwalking.org/blog/lunchtime-walks-with-aqa-in-hulme/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/lunchtime-walks-with-aqa-in-hulme/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:43:48 +0000 jgreen http://www.getwalking.org/?p=3799 I found the Get Walking Keep Walking led walks really enjoyable and well organised.  60 of my colleagues at AQA have joined in on the walks, with each week being very well attended.   The diverse routes were really interesting in terms of how far we walked in the 30 minutes allocated, and because of the historical and cultural landmarks we passed.  It was great to see different parts of Manchester, which despite the fact I have lived here for the past eight and a half years, I was unaware of.  It was also great to be able to meet and chat to people I did not really know before attending a walk, especially away from the working environment.  Overall, it was a great initiative which was open to all of our colleagues, regardless of ability, and a good way of becoming more active and healthy in 2011. Get Walking Keep Walking are now planning on delivering the Volunteer Walk Leader training to a number of the AQA staff so that we can continue to lead lunchtime and after work walks.  (Joe Boyce AQA)

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/blog/lunchtime-walks-with-aqa-in-hulme/feed/ 0 Pick up a Get Walking Pack and Stepcounter at Sainsbury’s http://www.getwalking.org/in-my-area/sheffield-walking-programmes/pick-up-a-get-walking-pack-and-stepcounter-at-sainsburys/ http://www.getwalking.org/in-my-area/sheffield-walking-programmes/pick-up-a-get-walking-pack-and-stepcounter-at-sainsburys/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:12:08 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=3467 If you live in the Crystal Peaks area and would like a Get Walking Pack and stepcounter, then why not call in to Sainsbury’s at Crystal Peaks on Saturday 26th February to pick one up for free. You can also chat to Helen our project coordinator and pick up some walking information and tips to get you walking. To check out when we will be there on the 26th, please call us on 0114 2053954.

]]> http://www.getwalking.org/in-my-area/sheffield-walking-programmes/pick-up-a-get-walking-pack-and-stepcounter-at-sainsburys/feed/ 0 Roe Woods in All Weathers http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/roe-woods-in-all-weathers/ http://www.getwalking.org/blog/sheffield-blog/roe-woods-in-all-weathers/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:28:30 +0000 ruth.thomas http://www.getwalking.org/?p=3446 We have just finished a walking programme with St Catherine’s School on Firshill Crescent. They are lucky enough to be situated next to Roe Woods – a beautiful ancient woodland. If you live in Sheffield and haven’t discovered Roe Woods yet, I would highly recommend it – just tucked between Herries Rd / Norwood Rd and Firshill Crescent there are plenty of paths to explore. The Year 4 class St Catherine’s really showed that walking is a fun adventure whatever the weather walking in both rain and freshly fallen snow – looking for the abominable snowman!

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