Olympics inspire programme of walking events in Wealden

Walk Wealden is the name of an ambitious programme of events being organised in villages and towns in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Wealden Council says while the district is not in a position to benefit from Olympic facilities or athletes' training camps the international event could be used to inspire and challenge residents to be more active and to bring communities together.

Every town and parish area is being asked to host a healthy walk event between 2010 and 2012. A marketing campaign and dedicated website pages will support the project.

Events could be an extension of something already organised such as a festival or fun day or something new. It could target a particular group or highlight a particular theme or something of historical, cultural or environmental interest.

A report prepared by the district council and considered on Monday, February 1, by Uckfield Town Council's environment and leisure committee said events should be aimed at those who are not currently very active so health walks should be short and accessible.

It went on to say: 'There are already a lot of organised walking groups for those keen to go on longer walks, such as the Ramblers or countryside access groups, but there is a gap in provision of very short health walks for beginners.'

Parish and town councils are invited to either co-ordinate an event themselves or identify partners who could organse it, perhaps schools or community groups.

'Wealden District Council officers will help identify suitable partners, organise walk leader training and marketing material. The walks in the project programme should be free to participants, be accessible and short (1-3 miles) and have in place their own insurance, risk assessment and safeguarding policies,' says the report.

UPDATE (Sunday, April 11, 2010) The first Wealden Walk will take place at Frant at 10am on Saturday, April 24, meeting at Frant village hall.

As well as a two-mile walk, the inaugural event will include an ActivePlay session, a Farmers' Market in the village hall and a children's poster competition.

(Added to site Friday, January 29th, 2010)