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Durham University

Greenspace

Walking

Walking is a great way to have time to yourself and gives you more energy to do the things you enjoy in life. During the working day, it can also help you to unwind and make plans and avoid the stress of traffic jams.

May is National Walking Month and we promoted the work of Living Streets, a UK Charity, to encourage staff and students to increase walking during National walking month. Staff were encouraged to take part by joining the Workplace Challenge for employees. Living Streets also kindly created two short walks from the Mountjoy Site.

May is the month to see the vast array of bluebells in Houghall Woods and the Cherry Trees in the Botanic Garden are in full blossom in the Sakura Friendship Garden.

Many local walks are available from the University Campus, for example to the Wicker Man at Low Burnhall Woods (Woodlands Trust) and self-guided walks which included a walk around the Botanic Garden and the Hay Meadow walk.

Further tips on how to explore your local area safely and walking and running are also available on the Durham County Council website.

Did you know that .....

  • Short walks every day has the potential to increase productivity by up to 30%?
  • When you take a step, you are using up to 200 muscles?
  • People who are active have lower rates of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression (WHO, 2001)
  • You can burn an extra 50 calories per hour by standing rather than being seated - so let's get moving
  • Helps reduce stress and anxiety

For more check out the health benefits of walking (bupa.co.uk).

Walk Your Way to Health

Did you know that walking 10,000 steps a day (about five miles) can give you a healthy heart and reduce your body fat? Think this sounds a lot to achieve in one day? You will be surprised. Check out the top 10 ways to smash your 10,000 steps by making simple lifestyle changes or getting your steps in alternative ways to show how easily this can be done.

Walking is also quite simply the most environmentally-friendly way of getting from a to b. It requires no fossil fuels, emits no air pollution, and is generally a pretty quiet way of getting about.