Health Walks restart and a walker shares their lockdown story
Our HealthWorks team have been working hard to reinstate their well-used and well-loved services when it's safe to do so.
Health Walks is the first to return, as a pilot scheme. To begin with this is being offered to existing health walkers using a booking system to ensure a maximum of five walkers to a walking leader. The first sessions will take place in one or two areas in the Borough only to being with and we thank the volunteer walking leaders who are trialling this new process.
The team have been in touch with service users over lockdown and some have been sharing their stories...
" We have been Fair Oak and Bishopstoke walkers for many years. On Lockdown we decided to keep the Monday and Friday walks going as usual. Obviously, we could only walk in twos with distancing, but we agreed on a walk, staggering the times we left home and alternating partners weekly."
"As the Lockdown eased, we followed the same distancing rules but would decide on a meeting point to have a catch up. Much chatter and laughter ensued, after which we would disperse in twos to continue the walk home. The top of Knowle Hill was a good meeting point and we stood like a Coven (I refrain from saying Witches)."
"When we could meet up in groups of up to six, we became more adventurous albeit on a local scale. With little restriction on time, and often following the trails of the usual Health Walk, we would take unknown paths we didn’t even know existed. Difficult to get lost in the woods but we often weren’t too sure where we were! We enjoyed all the wildlife on offer, deer, squirrels, birds and recently many butterflies and many walks which would be impossible for a larger group."
"Occasionally we branch out to the local surrounding areas by car and can now enjoy a takeaway coffee as they have become more available. Picnics have also been mentioned, and so as long as the weather plays it’s part we intend to continue on our route of discovery. We all look forward to our Health Walks on Mondays and Fridays albeit with a slightly different format."
Carolyn, regular Health Walks user, Fair Oak and Bishopstoke.