Ten year life’s been a Walk in the Park
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park-based walkers have celebrated the 10th anniversary of a popular group.
Starting with just a handful of walkers in 2008, Walk in the Park has grown to more than 160 registered active walkers with walks setting out from Callander, Killin, Aberfoyle, Balloch and Drymen each week.
Walks and activities are supported by more than 40 enthusiastic volunteer leaders.
Last week the Callander group shared the milestone with visitors, friends and partners including local councillor Martin Earl.
He said: “This great idea provides a lot of people with an opportunity to get out and about, meet people and enjoy our wonderful countryside. Everyone involved in this project should be very proud of what they have helped create and build from a small initial group into something that so many people take part in.”
Walk in the Park, led by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust, facilitates improvements to health and fitness, particularly for those who are not meeting government guidelines which recommend that to be healthy we need to be active for at least 30 minutes a day
Whilst Walk in the Park is a health walk programme one of their biggest successes has been helping to tackle isolation and loneliness for older people living in rural areas by offering a social time after the walks.
The group continue to increase the range of activities on offer from short 10 minute walks in association with our strength and balance sessions to various levels of health walks from 45-60 minutes progressing to walk extensions or challenges. They also want to develop new links with other groups and opportunities to help people overcome specific barriers such as dementia.
Gail Tripney, Physiotherapy Specialist, NHS ReACH team said: “From a health perspective walking is a great activity to help maintain a healthy heart and strengthen bones and muscles. There are also great benefits to wellbeing through meeting people and socialising in the local area.
“Walk in the Park allows people of varied mobility and abilities to get out and enjoy themselves in a healthy way. It is rewarding to see our patients progressing from requiring home visits and input from ReACH to being independent and engaged in the community. The strength and balance classes have grown and developed and are a great way of maintaining and progressing gains made through physiotherapy, preventing falls and hospital admissions.”
Information about Walk in the Park walks and activities can be found on the website: www.trustinthepark. org/walk-in-the-park. If you have any questions about joining in any of the walks or exercise sessions please contact coordinator Cathy Scott 07852 334272 or send an email to cathy.scott@ lochlomond-trossachs.org.