In 2023 Let’s Walk Bristol launched a Green Social Prescribing pilot in Page Park, South Gloucestershire. Our vision was simple but powerful: improve mental and physical wellbeing through the combination of Nordic walking and nature connection and build a self-sustaining community walking group. We especially wanted to encourage people who were visibly minority ethnic, on low incomes, or had long-term health conditions.
Right now, there’s a real buzz around Place based initiatives — and ours was a shining example of collaboration at its best*: local communities, race equity groups, funders, and health based organisations, deftly managed by our talented and dedicated team member, Subitha. She poured countless hours into building connections, offering support, nurturing confidence, delivering the programme, monitoring and evaluating, and staying in touch with funders and stakeholders, ably supported by Fred and Michael.
It has been an amazing success story. The consistent theme during our programme was one of improved mental and physical health and community connection, highlighted by the feedback (below) from students. What was particularly striking was the percentage change in happiness and anxiety over the course of the programme – a group 27% increase in happiness and 53% drop in anxiety.
‘Hadn’t been able to move my left arm very much. Certainly not above my head. Thanks to Nordic walking I now can. This has had a really big impact. There were household jobs I couldn’t do. I can now do them and I’ve just started going out and doing some gardening for the first time in absolutely ages because I can use my arms and hands more and don’t get pain afterwards.’
From a student thinking about posture when Nordic Walking made her lift her head. ‘You notice for the first time how beautiful the trees are’
‘Because of NW, I have changed my posture. I used to walk with slumped shoulders but now walk upright. Even working in the shop (standing behind a till), I stand up straight.’
‘Nordic Walking is the single best thing I do in the week for my brain. It’s had an impact on concentration and memory, both of which have been affected as a result of my treatment for breast cancer.’
After just one year, we had established a thriving Nordic walking group and were able to proudly hand the running of it over to its enthusiastic, committed members. They created a constitution, opened a bank account, and secured funding to train a new Nordic walking instructor. With two walk leaders and a full set of poles ready to go, they were off and running (well, walking — briskly!).
Last month, the Page Park Nordic Walkers celebrated their first anniversary combining their inaugural AGM and a big social. The group doesn’t just stick to Page Park anymore. Walks now alternate between the park and other local green spaces — and sometimes even further afield. When needed, they book a community minibus, making sure everyone can take part. Members have discovered new places they’d never visited before — whether hidden paths close to home or cafés they’d never stumbled upon. Pomphrey Hill Parkrun has also become a regular Saturday morning Nordic walking for many … and so the story continues. Friendship, health, fun, and community.
* Thank you to our Funders: Natural England through their Healthier with Nature fund and SGREN (South Gloucestershire Race Equality Network) who funded Fred’s Nordic Walk Leader qualification. Friends of Page Park and Westport, our local Active Partnership, were also involved. Philippa Statter you were amazing, grateful thanks. Steve Spiers, thank you also for your support.
