Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
Footprints
Footprints is a countywide scheme that is part of the wider Walking the Way to Health Initiative (WHI). A “health walk” is defined as “a purposeful, brisk walk, undertaken on a regular basis”.The primary aim of the project was to increase the health of residents and tourists through encouraging them to walk. This was done by developing and marketing guided and independent walks in some of Herefordshire’s most picturesque, yet under-used, areas, thereby also increasing accessibility to the countryside.
The Walking for Health Co-ordinator managed the project on a day-to-day basis. Ways of involving communities were through the development of routes for local walks and included the provision of training and volunteering opportunities for members of the community, who went on to guide walks themselves.
The volunteer walk leaders were provided training, such as:
- Walk for Health Initiative Volunteer Walk Leader training (a full one-day course, which ensures the volunteers are insured to lead walks)
- Emergency First Aid training through Herefordshire Heart Start (providing CPR and basic first aid training)
- Map reading and compass skills (provided by local experts)
There were five arranged walks per week in various parts of the county, taken from a choice of 14 different routes that were developed with the local communities. These routes were located within the LEADER+ area, many of which will be riverside walks.
The walks were actively promoted to local residents, community groups and tourists through “walk packs” and through the local media. The “walk packs” were designed in liaison with community groups. Items of environmental interest and historical features were included in the “walk packs”, on the routes and maps. The maps also included information on car parks and bus routes, to aid accessibility.
As well as long term health benefits for individuals of all ages and abilities, there was also way-marking signage, so that the routes would continue to be accessible, even after the two-year project ended. The signage was made from natural materials, so as not to detract from its surrounding areas.
The Footprints routes were integrated in the annual Herefordshire Walking Festivals, which already has a large residential and tourist following. This aided involving people who would not otherwise be able to join in the Festival’s more vigorous walks due to health conditions or physical impairments.
Joy Williams
Footprints Project Manager
Tel: (01432) 261799
Email: joywiliiams@herefordshire.gov.uk