Walking Festival Information Booklet - Sport Across Staffordshire
Walking Festival Information Booklet - Sport Across Staffordshire
Walking Festival Information Booklet - Sport Across Staffordshire
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Sunday 5 to<br />
Saturday 11<br />
May 2013<br />
Stepping out in Stafford Borough<br />
StaffOrd BOrOugh<br />
<strong>Walking</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong><br />
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH<br />
Stafford Borough Council<br />
Civic Centre,<br />
Riverside,<br />
Stafford ST16 3AQ<br />
web www.staffordhealth.co.uk<br />
email ksquires@staffordbc.gov.uk<br />
tel 01785 619 686<br />
Working in partnership with<br />
If you need this information in large<br />
print, Braille, other language or<br />
on audio cassette please contact:<br />
email info@staffordbc.gov.uk<br />
tel 01785 619 000<br />
04<br />
13<br />
www.staffordhealth.co.uk
welcOme<br />
The Stafford <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>, now<br />
in its fourth year, is a celebration<br />
of walking in Stafford Borough.<br />
This week-long event is jam packed with<br />
opportunities to join led walks or to take<br />
to the hidden footpaths of the borough independently<br />
- whichever you choose, you will be sure to discover<br />
and explore new and beautiful places - many of them<br />
right on your doorstep!<br />
The <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> coincides with two national<br />
walking events: The Ramblers ‘Get <strong>Walking</strong> Week’ and<br />
Living Streets’ ‘<strong>Walking</strong> Month’ - visit www.ramblers.<br />
org.uk or www.livingstreets.org.uk for more information<br />
about free led walks and local events near you.<br />
<strong>Walking</strong> Good for you,<br />
good for the planet and<br />
your pocket<br />
<strong>Walking</strong> is an easy and cheap form of exercise that<br />
is accessible to people of all ages and fitness<br />
levels, and you can do it anytime and anywhere.<br />
For people who currently do little or no exercise,<br />
walking is a fantastic way of increasing activity levels.<br />
It’s a great way to improve or maintain your general<br />
health and will also strengthen your heart. In fact,<br />
regular walking reduces the risk of heart problems<br />
by a half, and the risk of a stroke by a third. It also<br />
provides mental health benefits by bringing you<br />
closer to nature taking away from the stresses of<br />
every-day life.<br />
<strong>Walking</strong> is the most eco-friendly and economic way<br />
of getting from A to B,<br />
so whether you want<br />
to reduce your<br />
carbon footprint or<br />
save fuel costs<br />
walking is right<br />
for you!<br />
gOOdie Bags<br />
The first 100 walkers who take part in the <strong>Walking</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong> will receive a goody bag courtesy of Marks<br />
and Spencer, Stafford, The Beauty Academy,<br />
Stafford College and the Shire Hall Gallery. We<br />
would like to thank everyone who has contributed<br />
to making the 2013 <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> the best yet.<br />
schOOls<br />
Local schools will take part in the 2013 <strong>Walking</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong> by completing an orienteering style walk<br />
around their school grounds.<br />
Walkers will get their cards stamped at check<br />
in points located around the school in order<br />
to complete the set course. Working in<br />
partnership with Stafford and Stone<br />
School <strong>Sport</strong> Partnership and Hobby<br />
Craft, who kindly provided the ink<br />
pads and rubber stamps. Everyone<br />
who participates will receive<br />
a certificate.<br />
Local nursery groups will be taking children in<br />
their care out on a walk as part of the <strong>Walking</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong>. Using inspiration from the walks they<br />
will be going back to the classroom to make<br />
artwork from their observations using craft<br />
materials provided by Hobby Craft.<br />
Local Youth Clubs will also be<br />
organising their own walks.
sunday<br />
5 May<br />
9.30am<br />
Stafford Rambling<br />
Group Walk<br />
the ramblers association<br />
A pleasant 5 mile rural walk around the Haywoods.<br />
There are a few hills on this route.<br />
meet Castle Hill Car Park, Stafford ST16 2QB<br />
call Trevor 01785 823 591<br />
10.00am and 2.00pm<br />
Maps and<br />
COmpasses<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
A walk organised by <strong>Staffordshire</strong> County Scout<br />
Active Support Unit with support from Silva,<br />
manufacturers of fine compasses.Teams of four will<br />
receive simple instructions and then, together with<br />
the maps provided and compasses (bring your own<br />
or borrow one for a refundable £20 cash deposit) will<br />
navigate a 5 mile circular route on Cannock Chase.<br />
During the walk, you will also learn a little about the<br />
history of this area.<br />
Not part of a team? Don’t worry, come along and<br />
make new friends!<br />
The walk, which will take about three hours is open<br />
to all but please be aware of the length of the walk<br />
and the potential for challenging terrain. Young people<br />
under 18 are welcome but must be accompanied by<br />
an adult and dogs must be kept under control at all<br />
times.There is no charge for this walk but numbers<br />
are limited so please call to book.<br />
meet Broc Hill Car Park,<br />
Broc Hill Way,<br />
Brocton ST17 0UB<br />
book 01785 619 387<br />
10.30am<br />
To the Crown and Back<br />
a walk for health<br />
Join us for a two hour walk in and around Hyde Lea.<br />
As the walk begins and ends at the local pub, there<br />
will be the chance to enjoy a chilled pint or warming<br />
coffee at the end of the walk. No need to book, just turn<br />
up on the day. The pub also offers Sunday lunch,<br />
booking recommended call 01785 253 332.<br />
meet The Crown, Hyde Lea Bank,<br />
Hyde Lea, Stafford ST18 9BG<br />
2.30pm<br />
BeatiNg the BOunds<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
This annual event revives the ancient tradition of<br />
walking the boundaries of the parish. It was an<br />
opportunity to pray for the parish, its people and its<br />
produce and to make sure that people knew where<br />
the local boundaries lay.<br />
Important boundary markers such as gateposts would<br />
be beaten with sticks to reinforce this message. In<br />
some parishes, a choir boy - being young and<br />
impetuous and needing to know his limits - would be<br />
held upside down over a marker and his head would<br />
be gently knocked on the post! Luckily, this practice<br />
has died out but the annual Beating the Bounds walk<br />
is kept alive in Colwich parish although nowadays, the<br />
walks only take in part of the parish with occasional<br />
stops for prayer and reflection.<br />
Beating the Bounds has become an established part<br />
of Stafford Borough <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> and traditionally,<br />
takes place on Rogation Sunday, the fifth Sunday after<br />
Easter. The walk itself will take about 90 minutes and<br />
will conclude with a short service and refreshments in<br />
one of the parish churches.<br />
meet tbc, please call for details<br />
call Kim Squires 01785 619 686<br />
email ksquires@staffordbc.gov.uk
ank holiday<br />
monday<br />
6 May<br />
10.00 am<br />
Little Haywood<br />
a walk for health<br />
This walk includes the canal towpath and fields as<br />
well as quiet country lanes. Refreshments are<br />
available in the Red Lion after the walk.<br />
meet Lamb and Flag Pub, Main Road,<br />
Little Haywood ST18 0TS<br />
call 07790 113 798<br />
10.00am<br />
Rising Brook<br />
a walk for health<br />
This walk includes quiet lanes and green spaces not<br />
far from this popular shopping centre. Pushchair and<br />
wheelchair friendly.<br />
meet Brook Café, Rising Brook Baptist Church,<br />
Burton Square, Stafford ST17 9LT<br />
call Ian 01785 211 400<br />
10.30am - 2.30pm<br />
BlueBells<br />
and BlOssOm<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Come along to Sugnall Hall just outside Eccleshall to<br />
explore this beautiful country estate. The walks start<br />
in the walled kitchen garden at Sugnall, where the<br />
pear trees should be in flower. Walkers can guide<br />
themselves around the local network of recently made<br />
permissive footpaths through the fields with good<br />
views, using a map provided, and/or join a morning<br />
or an afternoon guided tour of the bluebell woods<br />
and their ancient fishpools.<br />
Guided tours take about one hour and are not<br />
demanding although stout shoes are recommended.<br />
The footpaths followed connect to others allowing for<br />
longer independent walks; for example there is a<br />
good 4 mile circuit around the 40 acre Copmere pool<br />
via The Star Inn, or you can range even further by<br />
going westwards onto Gratewood Heath and towards<br />
the Bishop’s Woods.<br />
Leaflets on the walled garden and its history, the<br />
Sugnall Farmer’s Markets, the Jackson’s Coppice and<br />
Marsh Nature Reserve, are available free and other<br />
local history booklets are on sale in the bookshop.<br />
There is a nominal charge of £2 for entry to the estate<br />
payable on the day. The estate has a lovely tea room<br />
where you can buy a refreshing cuppa<br />
and slice of cake.<br />
meet Outside the tearoom in the walled<br />
kitchen garden, Sugnall Hall,<br />
Sugnall, ST21 6NF. Parking is<br />
available in the business centre<br />
car park opposite the hall.<br />
call 01785 850 820
tuesday<br />
7 May<br />
9.30am<br />
Mid-Staffs<br />
Ramblers Walk<br />
the ramblers association<br />
A rural walk around Sandon. This walk does include<br />
some hills.<br />
meet To car share, meet at Wildwood car park at<br />
9.30am. Otherwise, meet opposite the<br />
Dog and Doublet in Sandon at 10.00am<br />
[grid reference SJ947292]<br />
call David 01785 661 076<br />
10.15am<br />
Stafford<br />
Children’s Centre<br />
a walk for health<br />
This walk is in quiet areas around the centre.<br />
Pushchair friendly.<br />
meet Stafford Children’s Centre, Faraday Road,<br />
Stafford, ST16 3NQ<br />
call Jackie 01785 854 705<br />
10.50am<br />
Stone<br />
a walk for health<br />
This walk is in local beauty spots. Two walks are<br />
offered; one for those who can only spare a small<br />
amount of time and another for those who wish to<br />
walk a little further. Pushchair friendly.<br />
meet Car park past Westbridge Park and scout hut<br />
[by the towpath], Stone ST15 8QW<br />
call 01785 813 604<br />
8.45pm<br />
StaffOrd<br />
TOwn Centre<br />
GhOst Walk<br />
walking festival - book now!<br />
Find out about Stafford Ghosts on this chilling walk<br />
around the Town Centre. Hear scary tales of what<br />
may lurk behind the doors of some of Stafford’s best<br />
known buildings. Join us if you dare!<br />
Sorry, this walk is not suitable for young children.<br />
Young people aged 14 - 18 must be accompanied<br />
by an adult.<br />
The cost for this walk is £3.60 per person payable at<br />
the time of booking.<br />
meet Market Square, outside the Shire Hall,<br />
Stafford ST16 2LD<br />
book Booking essential call 01785 619 387
wednesday<br />
8 May<br />
10.00am<br />
Culture and Cake<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
A tour around our county town to discover the<br />
fascinating stories that have taken place in buildings<br />
we pass without a second thought. We will finish<br />
in the Shire Hall Gallery with a tour of the historic<br />
courtroom and a look at the Mad Dogs and<br />
Englishmen exhibition; this will be followed by<br />
scrumptious homemade cake, and tea or coffee in<br />
the Balcony Coffee Bar. The cost for this walk is £3<br />
per person, payable at the time of booking.<br />
meet Shire Hall Gallery, Market Square, Stafford<br />
book Booking essential call 01785 619 387<br />
Artist - Lauren van Helmond<br />
10.30am<br />
Cannock Chase<br />
an extended walk for health<br />
This offers people the opportunity to extend their walk<br />
by following a figure of eight. The shorter walk will<br />
take about 1 hour while those who opt to continue<br />
will walk for another hour or so. This walk is led by<br />
one of Stafford Borough’s trained and experienced<br />
Health Walk leaders.<br />
meet Milford Common car park, Brocton ST16 2LD,<br />
then car share to Chase Corner car park.<br />
call Roy 01785 245 693<br />
12.15pm<br />
Wednesday Walkout<br />
a walk for health<br />
Walk in traffic free areas of the town including parks<br />
and Local Nature Reserves within 5 minutes of the<br />
Market Square. Pushchair and wheelchair friendly.<br />
meet Shire Hall Gallery, Market Square,<br />
Stafford ST16 2LD<br />
call Kim 01785 619 686<br />
2.00pm<br />
Derrington<br />
a walk for health<br />
Learn more about this small community as we follow<br />
the new village trail along the Greenway, around the<br />
Millennium Green and through local woodland. This<br />
walk will take about 1 hour. Pushchair, wheelchair<br />
and dog friendly, refreshments available.<br />
meet St Matthew’s Church, Derrington, ST18 9LU<br />
call Kim 01785 619 686<br />
6.30pm<br />
Hixon Agility Walk<br />
a walk for health<br />
Join us for a pleasant walk and then try out the<br />
innovative outdoor gym at Hixon playing fields.<br />
meet Hixon Memorial Hall, Hixon. ST18 0QF<br />
call Kim 01785 619 686 or Sue 01889 270 983
thursday<br />
9 May<br />
10.30am<br />
Signpost Centre<br />
a walk for health<br />
Walk in green spaces including Stafford Castle and<br />
Castlefields Lake. Join the group for a refreshing<br />
cuppa in the centre after the walk.<br />
Pushchair, wheelchair and dog<br />
friendly, refreshments available.<br />
meet Signpost Centre, Auden<br />
Way, Stafford ST17 9TX<br />
call Kim 01785 619 686<br />
11.30am<br />
teddy Bears’ Picnic<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
If you come down to the park today, you’re in for a big<br />
surprise. Come with your teddies to Rowley Park for<br />
a fun day of teddy hunts and clay modelling. Don’t<br />
forget your picnic! This walk is suitable for teddies<br />
and children under five - please bring a grown up. This<br />
walk is free but please call to book.<br />
meet Meeting Room, Rowley Park,<br />
Averill Road, Stafford<br />
ST17 9XX<br />
book 01785 619 387<br />
2.00pm and 6.00pm<br />
Orienteering - nO<br />
Ordinary walk!<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Join local orienteering specialists Walton Chasers for<br />
an introduction to this popular sport. You will receive<br />
expert training and then, using your new map-reading<br />
skills and a specially drawn map, you will navigate<br />
your way between control points in and around<br />
Rowley Park. The fastest team or individual will<br />
receive a prize. This family friendly event is suitable for<br />
people of all ages and promises to be very popular so<br />
please call to book your place.<br />
There is a small charge for this event: families (1 - 2<br />
adults plus children) £5, adults £3 and children £1.50.<br />
Please note, that as this is a public area and some of<br />
the event will take place outside the park, young<br />
people under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.<br />
Places are limited so please call to book.<br />
meet Meeting Room, Rowley Park,<br />
Averill Road, Stafford ST17 9XX<br />
book 01785 619 387<br />
6.30pm<br />
StOne<br />
Heritage Walk:<br />
Culture and Canals<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Dr John Wilcock is a well-known lecturer in local<br />
history and archaeology. He will lead us on a 4 mile<br />
walk around the canal, railway, streets and buildings<br />
of Stone. The walk should take about two hours and<br />
there should be time for a visit to a local hostelry for<br />
those who are interested at the end of the walk. Notes<br />
about the walk and local history will be available<br />
afterwards. The canal towpath could be muddy, and<br />
suitable footwear is recommended. This walk is free<br />
but is sure to be popular so please call to book.<br />
meet Free car park at the corner of Westbridge Park<br />
by Old Walton Bridge [grid ref SJ90223341]<br />
book 01785 619 387
friday<br />
10 May<br />
10.00am<br />
CaNnOck Chase<br />
RamBle<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Join Anne Walker from the AONB for this 6.5 mile<br />
walk on footpaths on Cannock Chase, one of the<br />
borough’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.<br />
Remember to bring your picnic as this walk will take<br />
about 4 hours to complete. Dogs with well-behaved<br />
owners are welcome. There is no charge for this walk<br />
but places are limited so please call to book.<br />
meet Seven Springs car park,<br />
opposite Meadow Lane off A513<br />
book 01785 619 387<br />
2.00pm<br />
nature Walk<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Come along and join Stafford Borough Bio-diversity<br />
Officer, Bill Waller at the borough’s newest Local<br />
Nature Reserve at Ferndown. The area, which used to<br />
be agricultural fields, is a mixture of meadow and<br />
woodland in Clayton and is home to a newly created<br />
wildflower meadow. Bill will answer your questions<br />
about this fascinating site, the natural habitats of<br />
different species of wildlife and plants and the types<br />
of conditions they need to thrive. The walk is free of<br />
charge and accessible to all. Please call to book as<br />
this walk is sure to be popular.<br />
meet Ferndown Local Nature Reserve [by the bus<br />
stop], Ferndown Drive, Clayton, ST3 4RX<br />
book 01785 619 387<br />
12.30pm<br />
Stafford Hospital<br />
a walk for health<br />
Explore the nearby Local Nature Reserve at Kingston<br />
Pool Covert or Kingston Hill or the surprisingly varied<br />
hospital grounds.<br />
meet Side entrance to the hospital by the Postgraduate<br />
Centre, Weston Road, Stafford ST16 3SA<br />
call Craig 01785 230 860
saturday<br />
11 May<br />
5.00am<br />
Dawn ChOrus Walk<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
What better way to start the day then at the crack of<br />
dawn, to a cacophony of beautiful birdsong? Join us as<br />
we are led through the grounds of Stafford Castle with<br />
local birdsong expert David Scattergood and learn to<br />
identify the many species of birds by their song.<br />
This event is organised with support from <strong>Staffordshire</strong><br />
Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wild About Stafford’ project which is<br />
funded by Perkins through the Caterpillar Foundation.<br />
The walk will take about one hour and is free but, as<br />
numbers are limited, please call to book your place.<br />
meet Visitor Centre, Stafford Castle,<br />
Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 1DJ<br />
book 01785 619 387<br />
10.30am - 12.30pm<br />
GeOcachiNg<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Do you fancy a walk with a difference? Then geocaching<br />
is just for you! A treasure hunt for the 21st century,<br />
geocaching uses satellite technology and your mobile<br />
phone, to locate hidden ‘caches’.<br />
Geocache enthusiasts will fill in a log to prove they<br />
have found the cache and exchange a small item -<br />
like a pen or a keyring - from the cache for something<br />
else. That way everyone will have some SWAG (Stuff<br />
We All Get) to take home.<br />
The <strong>Walking</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> Geocache event will take place<br />
at Stafford Castle where geocachers will be given the<br />
co-ordinates to find the first cache. Each cache will<br />
lead you to the next until the geocache trail is<br />
complete and you find the hidden treasure.<br />
The caches will be hidden on the day and removed<br />
after the event. The event is free and there is no need<br />
to book, just turn up with your mobile on the day.<br />
meet Visitor Centre, Stafford Castle,<br />
Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 1DJ<br />
8.45 pm<br />
Bat walk<br />
walking festival - book now<br />
Join local bat expert Jane Rock for the chance to<br />
observe the amazing aerial acrobatics of this<br />
fast-flying mammal. This walk is offered free of<br />
charge but donations to the <strong>Staffordshire</strong> Bat Group<br />
are welcome and may be made on the night. This is<br />
sure to be a popular walk and places are limited<br />
so booking is essential.<br />
meet Wolseley Wildlife Centre, Wolseley<br />
Bridge, Stafford ST11 0WT<br />
book 01785 619 387
BecOme a<br />
VOlunteer<br />
Walk Leader<br />
In Stafford Borough, trained leaders lead the many<br />
Health Walks and we are currently looking for<br />
more volunteers to assist on existing walks or to<br />
set up and lead their own walk programme.<br />
If you enjoy the outdoors, like meeting people, love<br />
walking and would like to help others improve their<br />
health and quality of life then why not join the Stafford<br />
Borough network of Volunteer Walk Leaders?<br />
You will be joining an established award winning<br />
walking scheme and will receive on-going support<br />
from the <strong>Walking</strong> for Health Co-ordinator and other<br />
experienced Volunteer Walk Leaders.<br />
The next one day training course will take place on<br />
8 June 2013, so if you are interested in training for<br />
a rewarding volunteering opportunity please call the<br />
<strong>Walking</strong> for Health Co-ordinator on 01785 619 686 or<br />
email ksquires@staffordbc.gov.uk.<br />
WalkWise,<br />
walking for health<br />
Stafford Borough has a number of led walks that<br />
take place each week. Led by trained volunteer<br />
walk leaders, these are aimed at people who<br />
currently take little or no exercise but want to<br />
improve their health, become more active or<br />
simply meet new people.<br />
Most of the walks take 30 - 40 minutes but are usually<br />
tailored to the ability and needs of the walkers. No<br />
one will be left behind, as the back marker will keep to<br />
the pace of the slowest walker. Although some walks<br />
begin in town centres, the leaders will take walkers off<br />
the beaten track, taking advantage of the many traffic<br />
free and green spaces that the borough has to offer.<br />
Walks take place every week and more information<br />
can be found in the WalkWise leaflet.<br />
Our award winning Doorstep Walks leaflets cover a<br />
range of walks around Stafford Borough which you<br />
can try on your own or with friends.<br />
Prefer to walk alone?<br />
<strong>Walking</strong> as part of a group is brilliant; you meet<br />
new people and socialise while enjoying the<br />
outdoors but sometimes, it’s great to have a little<br />
time to yourself to appreciate all that the natural<br />
world has to offer.<br />
Our <strong>Walking</strong> Guide, Come for a Walk in Stafford<br />
Borough, shows you just where to go to find out about<br />
the numerous opportunities for independent walking<br />
that the borough offers.<br />
Find out more…<br />
WalkWise leaflets and the Come for a Walk in Stafford<br />
Borough Guide are available from the Civic Centre,<br />
Stafford Leisure Centre, the Visitor <strong>Information</strong> Centre<br />
at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, GP surgeries and<br />
local libraries. Visit our website www.staffordhealth.<br />
co.uk or contact the <strong>Walking</strong> for Health Co-ordinator<br />
on 01785 619 686, email ksquires@staffordbc.gov.uk.