Monthly walks planned to discover the hidden gems of Thimblemill Brook
Local residents will be teaming up with National charity Living Streets and the Friends of Thimblemill Brook group to take part in a series of monthly organised walks as part of the charity’s Fitter for Walking project.
Living Streets launched the Fitter for Walking project in Sandwell in 2007 to help residents create streets they can be proud of. With funding from the Big Lottery Fund and in partnership with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Primary Care Trust, the monthly walks will take in the area in and around Bearwood and Thimblemill Brook, encouraging local residents to get to know their local area on foot.
On 18 February, Hema Kasi-Patel, Fitter for Walking Coordinator, will be leading one of the walks alongside with the Friends of Thimblemill Brook group who will be providing information about the importance of Thimblemill Brook and areas of natural beauty and wildlife surrounding it. The group will be accompanied by a very special guest, ‘Woody the Bear’ of Thimblemill Library will be lacing up his walking shoes and welcoming children to join the walks too. The walks will encourage local residents and businesses to get to learn more about their local area as well as encouraging the community to come together and use the local spaces for walking.
Residents are welcome to join the monthly walks on February 18, March 20 (Bird Walk) and April 17 (History Walk).
Meet at: Outside Thimblemill Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ, 10am.
Fitter for Walking is part of a group of projects that will be helping 2 million people nationwide become more physically active, by regularly walking or cycling as part of their daily lives. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Wellbeing Programme. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Primary Care Trust are official partners in the Fitter for Walking project – a fantastic move that shows they are eager to work together with Living Streets and residents to improve their streets and encourage people to get walking locally. This partnership approach is vital in making sure that the project can make a real difference over the four year duration.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said:
“We are really excited to be leading some these walks in Smethwick and hope that we can encourage the local community to discover what’s on their doorstep. There are so many benefits to walking, not just to make the roads less congested and polluted, but to develop more of a community as you get to know your local area better.
“We are told all the time that we need to be more active, but it doesn’t have to be hard - making small changes to your everyday routine, such as having a brisk walk can work wonders in transforming your health.”
Local residents can get in touch with Hema by calling 07595 781875, or emailing hema.kasi-patel@livingstreets.org.uk
Published by: Travel Actively on Monday April 12 2010
