Walk this May Worcestershire!

Walking is a great way to exercise and walking regularly can keep us fit and healthier for longer. It can also make you feel more positive and ready to start the day. 

Physical inactivity presents a real risk to health, but in Worcestershire, we are pretty good at walking. The latest data shows that the proportion of physically inactive adults in Worcestershire is around 1 in 5 people which is significantly lower than the national average of 1 in 4 people.

According to Sport England, 56% of people in Worcestershire walk for leisure, which is higher than the national and regional figures. It may come as no surprise that the highest proportion of people who walk in their leisure time is in the Malvern Hills area (64.3%).

The most recent data also shows that we have active children too. Physical activity among children in Worcestershire has risen to be significantly higher than the national average.  The top two areas in the West Midlands region are in Worcestershire, namely Redditch and Wychavon, with Worcester also being in the top five.

Dr Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health for Worcestershire said: “It’s inspiring to read the latest figures on how active people of all ages in our county are. So, if you are already a walker, why not invite your friends out for a gentle stroll and a catch up. It’s good for the body, mind and soul.

Please do take a picture of your favourite walk, send it to us on our social media and help inspire the rest of the county to get walking. Don’t forget to tag your photo with #WalkingWorcestershire.” 

To discover new walks in Worcestershire, including maps and downloadable documents of routes, take a look at our walking website. You can also take a look at Visit Worcestershire’s 8 hikes you need to try! for inspiration. 

Worcestershire has some beautiful walks, and everyone is encouraged to share their walk this May on Worcestershire County Council’s social media.

Just go to the County Council's Facebook or Twitter page and use the hashtags #WalkingWorcestershire and #WalkThisMay.

If you would like some ideas on how to build more activity into your and your family's life, take a look at the Get Active pages on the County Council website for opportunities in the county.