Just a walk in the park
WHAT’S ON EDITOR GORDON BARR HAS NEWS ON HOW YOU CAN TAKE PART IN A FREE EVENT IN NEWCASTLE TOMORROW TO MARK NATIONAL WALKING MONTH
NEWCASTLE residents are being invited to put their best foot forward tomorrow and celebrate National Walking Month.
They are being encouraged to join a free walk through Tyne Riverside Country Park on May 20 hosted by ParkLives and Newcastle City Council.
The fun will begin at 12.30pm at Hedley’s Café, Newburn, in Tyne Riverside Country Park.
The walk will go from the cafe along the banks of the Tyne to George Stephenson’s Cottage and is aimed at encouraging local residents to enjoy the pathways and green spaces on their doorstep, as well as promoting the benefits of walking.
The session is part of the ParkLives’ One Big Walk in the Park initiative, with Newcastle one of 10 cities nationwide to host a series of walking activities throughout the weekend.
Delivered by teams from Newcastle City Council in partnership with CocaCola Great Britain, ParkLives sessions help local parks come to life with activities that bring communities together and improve well-being.
Taking place daily in more than 12 parks and green spaces across Newcastle, including Exhibition Park and Walker Park, activities will range from tai chi and Nordic walking to cycling and family games, and are designed to appeal to everyone, regardless of ability or experience.
The programme has been devised following consultation with local communities within the city, and will see new activities such as bowling, and cycling on the timetable this spring and summer.
Su Cumming, leisure specialist at Newcastle City Council, said: “Thousands of local residents will benefit from ParkLives again this year. It’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy their local parks, meet new people or spend quality time together as a family.
“Whether that’s enjoying a yoga session, going on a Nordic walk or trying your hand at bowling – there’s truly something for everyone.
“ParkLives is great fun – we see a lot of friendship groups forming and plenty of smiling faces after each session, but it also plays a serious role in helping to improve the well-being of people in our city.
“In 2016, we had more than 10,000 attendances in ParkLives sessions, with many of those taking part living in some of the city’s most deprived areas.”
Sessions last for around an hour and are hosted by trained, friendly and passionate leaders and volunteers from the local area.
Activities are group-based, and everyone can go at their own pace.
To save a space at one of the free activities, and check out a postcodeled local activity finder, go to www. parklives.com