Get Moving Month in Swindon May 2014
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Welcome Welcome to Swindon’s Get Moving Month brochure. Discover a packed and varied programme of events to help you get more active that are happening as part of Ramblers Get Walking Week, National Walk to Work Week and National Walk to School Week. Also take a look at the new Skyride cycling activities that are coming to Swindon. Walking and cycling are ideal ways to get moving, and it’s easy to get started local groups always welcome beginners.
Why Move More? helps you lose weight. 3 Exercise (You can burn 100 calories (420 kj) if you walk at least a mile) can reduce your risk of 3 You developing serious conditions like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and some cancers
active lifts your mood, 3 Getting helps you sleep better and helps combat depression and anxiety short journeys on foot 3 Making or by bike will save you money on fuel and parking fun! Don’t take our word for 3 It’s it, step outside or get on your bike … and give it a try!
Free Pedometers Free pedometers are available for everyone who takes part in any of the events listed during Get Moving month. Simply turn up and claim your pedometer from the event leader. Please note all walks are free unless marked*
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Get Moving Month
Get Walking Day 2014 Pinetrees to Seven Fields Saturday 3 May
Step out with this sociable guided community walk to explore Seven Fields nature reserve.The hour-long walk kicks off ‘Get Walking Week’ and Swindon’s ‘Let’s Get Moving’ month in May. Walk starts at 11.00am from Pinetrees Community Centre/library, The Circle, Pinehurst. To find out more, call 01793 465413.
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Visit stalls to pick up tips and advice on getting more active and ways to be healthier, as well as information on local walking groups and routes. Collect a free pedometer* to count your steps and the calories you’ve burned when you walk with this group. No need to register in advance. To find out more, phone 01793 465413 or visit www.leisureinswindon.co.uk or www.swindontravelchoices.org.uk for tips to get walking in Swindon. *one pedometer per walker (subject to availability) Get Moving Month
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Let’s Ride Enjoy free guided rides in your area. For all abilities, from easy to challenging. Sign up at
goskyride.com
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Get Moving Month
Tri-Active Project & Sky Ride Run, Cycle and Swim – that’s what the Swindon Tri-Active project is all about! The project is developing new opportunities in Swindon, and the cycling element will be delivered in partnership with British Cycling. Swindon now has a number of new Ride Leaders - this team will lead the Sky Ride Local programme. Sky Ride Local rides are guided by friendly British Cycling Ride Leaders along scenic planned routes. With different levels, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re building your confidence or already comfortable on a bike looking for a challenge. Find a ride now at www.goskyride.com or register your interest by contacting Ben Humphrey, the Tri-Active project Co-ordinator. By registering your interest you will also be entered into a prize draw to win an Annual Leisure Membership which will give you a choice of a wide variety of activities at any of Swindon Borough Council’s 7 leisure centres.
Contact Detail s: w
ww.leisureinsw indon.co.uk/tr i-a www.facebook .com/swindont ctive riactive Email: bhumph rey@swindon.go v.uk Phone: 01793 465404
Skyride Roadshow Wednesday 28th May, Wharf Green, 10.00am – 3.00pm A cycling road show event for people of all ages and abilities: • Free bike check-ups • Pedal a fruit smoothie with our cycle smoothie maker • Cycle cinema
• Free bike security marking • Stalls with more information on Skyrides and getting active
Contact Ben Humphrey 01793 465404 or bhumphrey@swindon.gov.uk or visit www.goskyride.com
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When
What
Meet
How far?
Saturday 3rd May 11.00am – 12.30pm
Get Walking Day Pinetrees to Seven Fields Nature Reserve. Healthy lifestyle stalls and refreshments NE Wiltshire Ramblers Kingsdown Lane and Castle Hill
Pinetrees Community Centre
3 – 4 miles
Stanton Park car park
6 miles
NE Wiltshire Ramblers Gentle Country Stroll Ladder Lane, Overton, nut plantation & Hodson
Pipers Way pinic site car park
Saturday 3rd May 10.20am
Sunday 4th May 9.45am
Monday 5th May 10.00am – 3.00pm
Monday 5th May 2.00pm
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StoryWalk with Rachel Rose Reid Part of the Swindon Festival of Literature
Moderate
Get Moving Month
11 miles walk Moderate
(bring a packed lunch and a drink)
Stable block at Lydiard Park
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
(bring a packed lunch)
Outside the café Get Moving at Lydiard Park Travel Choices roadshow
For more information
3 mile walk around Lydiard Park.
Call David Trease 01793 616346/ 07534 049707 Call David Trease 01793 616346 or 07534 049707
Call 01793 466392
Gentle pace, meet at 11.00am Short walk Call 01793 to the lake at 771080 Lydiard Park with stories, followed by refreshments
When
What
Meet
How far?
Tuesday 6th May 10.30am
NE Wiltshire Ramblers Swindon Heritage Walk
Bottelino’s carpark, Outlet Centre
5 miles
Tuesday 6th May 10.00am (weekly)
Central Health Walk Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Broadgreen Community Centre
2 – 3 miles 45 – 50 mins
Tuesday 6th May 10.00am (weekly)
Toothill Health Walk
Toothill Community Centre
Tuesday 6th May 7.00pm – 8.30pm (weekly)
East Swindon Evening Walk with Swindon Twin Peaks
Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
For more information
Call Grahame Lee 01793 727091/ 07932 109209
Leisurely
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
2 – 3 miles 45 – 50 mins
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
Outside the Holiday Inn, Coate Water
5 miles Moderate/ reasonable level of fitness needed
Call Diane Lancaster 07833 385971 Visit www. swindontwinpeaks.org/ home
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When
What
Meet
How far?
Wednesday 7th May 10.00am – 11.00am (weekly)
Walk to Jog Ladies only, instructor led group, fun, friendly outdoor exercise
County Ground Athletics Track
2 miles of Call 01793 walking and 465404 jogging activities bhumphrey@ swindon.gov.uk
Wednesday 7th May 2.00pm 3.00pm
Spring Steps Lawn Medical around the Centre Lawns Led by a fitness instructor
2 – 3 miles 45 – 50 mins
Wednesday 7th May 10.00 (weekly)
Walcot Health Walk
2 – 3 miles Easy, fairly brisk
Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Wednesday 7th May 12.00noon (weekly)
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Stratton Fitness Walk*
Get Moving Month
Buckhurst Fields Community Centre (Walcot Dome)
For more information
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
Stratton Leisure 3 – 4 miles Centre 60 mins Moderate/good level fitness needed
Call 01793 465413
Call 01793 825525
New Penhill Health Walk Starts Monday 12th May 2014
Free and every Monday at 10.00am from John Moulton Hall/Penhill Library
Guided by a trained Volunteer Walk Leader Walk for 45 - 50 minutes (2 – 3 miles) at a fairly brisk pace for health, followed by socializing and refreshments Open to all ages and abilities
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For more information on Swindon Health Walks: Phone (01793) 465413 Email: arothwell@swindon.gov.uk Visit www.leisureinswindon.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @WalkingSwindon Sw
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When
What
Meet
How far?
Wednesday 7th May 7.00pm – 8.30pm
North Swindon Evening Walk with Swindon Twin Peaks
Haydon Leisure Centre entrance
5 miles
Thursday 8th May 10.00am (weekly)
Wroughton Health Walk Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Ellendune Community Centre
2 – 3 miles
Thursday 8th May 9.45am and 12.45pm (weekly)
Haydon Health Walk Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers Pinehurst Health Walk Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers Liden Health Walk Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Haydon Leisure Centre
2 – 3 miles
Friday 9th May 10.00am (weekly)
Friday 9th May 10.30am (weekly)
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Get Moving Month
Moderate/ reasonable fitness level needed
For more information Call Lynn 07530 948350
Visit www. swindontwinpeaks.org/ home Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
Pinetrees Community Centre
2 – 3 miles
Derryck Evans House
2 – 3 miles
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
Easy, fairly brisk
Call 01793 465413
When
What
Meet
How far?
Friday 9th May 11.45am 12.45pm (weekly) Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May 1.30 – 2.30pm
Ladies Walk Fit*
Croft Leisure Centre
4 – 6 miles Call 01793 Moderate/good 465413 level of fitness needed
Guided Bluebell Walk*
Lydiard Park
Gentle pace Call 01793 around the park 466664 or visit www. lydiardpark. org.uk
Saturday 10th May 10.30am
North East Wiltshire Ramblers
Mouldon Hill car park
5 miles
Discover the wild flowers of Lydiard Park
Leisurely Suitable for beginners
NW Swindon Grand Tour: lakes, canal, river & railpath
Monday 12th May 10.00am (weekly)
Walk Fit*
Monday 12th May 10.00am (weekly)
New Penhill Health Walk
Link Centre
4 – 6 miles
For more information
Call Grahame Lee 01793 727091 or 07932 109209
Call 01793 465413
Moderate/good level of fitness needed
Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Penhill Library/ John Moulton Hall
2- 3 miles Easy, fairly brisk
Call 01793 465413
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Why Not Try One of Our Free Nordic Walking Taster Sessions? Nordic walkers use two lightweight poles to harness upper-body movement. It’s a great way to increase your fitness. Choose from: • Free Nordic Walking at Lydiard Park in May (ladies only). Phone Helen on 07969 274496 for more information • Free Nordic Walking sessions at Coate Water and Lydiard Park (for everyone aged 16+) see pages 15 & 16
Why not train to be a Volunteer Walk Leader for Swindon Health Walks? The local scheme is keen to recruit new people, so if you enjoy walking and you’re organised, reliable and you like to socialise,
contact Amanda on 01793 465413 or email arothwell@swindon.gov.uk
Workplace lunchtime walks
Does your workplace offer a lunchtime walk? Check your intranet and internal communications for details.
For more information, contact arothwell@swindon.gov.uk
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Get Moving Month
! d n u o r Get a If you would like to go for a walk but can’t make any of the events planned for the Get Active month, then why not organise your own walk, or go with family and friends. To make it easy we have planned and signposted three leisure routes, each of about 7 miles.
The Dorcan Round
The Haydon Wick Round
The West Swindon Round
taking in Dorcan, Liden, Greenbridge, Coate Water and The County Ground.
taking in Sevenfields, Pinehurst, Cheney Manor, Mouldon Hill, Tawhill and Abbey Meads
taking in Lydiard, Middleleaze, Peatmoor, Shaw Forest, Barnfield, Westlea, Toothill, Blagrove and Grange Park.
The routes are circular so you can start anywhere. They are also signed in both directions so if you fancy a change go the other way round.
Download a map of the routes from
www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk If you want to find a shorter circular walking route of less than five miles, go to www.getwalking.org/swindon where you can view photos and descriptions of walks, and download route cards.
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When
What
Monday 12th May 11.00am 12.00noon (weekly)
Up ‘n’ County Ground Walking* Athletics Track For beginners, older people and those with specific health conditions. Supervised by an instructor
Laps of the track at own pace
Monday 12th May 2.00pm (weekly)
Gentle Walking Group Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Haydon Leisure Centre
Very short distance/very slow pace/walk for up to 20 mins max (Alternative seated exercise session offered in bad weather)
Call 01793 465413
Monday 12th May 2.00pm (weekly)
Shaw Health Walk Followed by refreshments Led by volunteers
Lower Shaw Farm
2 – 3 miles
Call 01793 465413
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Get Moving Month
Meet
How far?
Easy, fairly brisk
For more information Call 01793 465413
When
What
Meet
How far?
Monday 12th May 7.00pm – 8.30pm
West Swindon Evening Walk with Swindon Twin Peaks
Link Centre
5 miles
Saturday 18th May 10.00am
Wednesday 21st May 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Nordic Walking Free Taster Session N.B. Advance booking is needed
Outside (library Moderate/ doors entrance) reasonable fitness level needed
Lydiard Park
Spring Steps Lawn Medical to the Lawns Centre Circular walk, led by a fitness instructor
45 mins/3 miles Easy for people who don’t have mobility difficulties or a specific health problem 2 – 3 miles
For more information Call Jacqui Kirwan 01793 872718
Visit www. swindontwinpeaks.org/ home Call Sue Daniels 07977 203504
Call 01793 465413
Easy, fairly brisk
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When
What
Meet
How far?
Wednesday 28th May 10.00am – 3.00pm
Skyrides cycling road show event for people of all ages and abilities Stalls, bike medic, bike marking, cycle a smoothie, cycle cinema
Wharf Green, town centre
Stalls with information and activities
Saturday 31st May 10.00am
Nordic Walking Free Taster Session N.B. Advance booking is needed
Coate Water
45 mins/3 miles
Nordic Walking Free Taster Session N.B. Advance booking is needed
Coate Water
Saturday 31st May 11.30am
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Get Moving Month
Easy for people who don’t have mobility difficulties or a specific health problem 45 mins/ 3 miles Easy for people who don’t have mobility difficulties or a specific health problem
For more information
Call Ben Humphrey on 01793 465404 bhumphrey@ swindon.gov.uk
Call Sue Daniels 07977 203504
Call Sue Daniels 07977 203504
Get pedalling, walking and using public transport this Summer for your chance to win an iPad! The Active Swindon Challenge is a free competition for individuals, teams and families running from Monday 5th May to Monday 25th August. E ACTIV
IND ON
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FREE water bottle for all participants
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open to everyone of all abilities
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chances to win some great prizes, including an iPad and cinema vouchers! Sign up now at: www.activeswindonchallenge.org.uk
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Walking, scooting or cycling to school: ✓✓ Help children to learn and practise vital road safety skills. For example, finding safe places to cross, using the Green Cross Code, and understanding how to behave around traffic ✓✓ Increase children’s awareness of their local environment and help them learn their way around. Children in cars miss out on interacting with their local area ✓✓ Provide an opportunity for children to socialise with family and friends. It’s a much less stressful journey, and a chance to chat and have fun, without distracting the driver. ✓✓ Can often take less time than driving. Your journey time is more reliable too – no traffic jams! ✓✓ Save money. The average family spends £500 per year driving the ‘school run’ If you have to drive to school, why not ‘Park and Stride’? Find a safe place to park a short distance away from the school gate and walk, or scoot, the last few minutes of your journey. This gives you all the benefits listed above and also helps to keep the area around the school gate safer for everyone. Your school may already have a ‘5 minute walk zone’ mapped out. Ask them for details.
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Get Moving Month
National Walk to work week takes place between 12th – 16th May 2014, so an ideal time to step out and log those trips, earning you points in the Active Swindon Challenge (see p17). A quarter of employees at Swindon’s workplaces live less than 2 miles from work – a distance that can be walked in around 30-40 minutes and will burn off the calories of a Toffee Crisp! If you live too far to walk to work, then try to get out at lunchtime for a walk; it’ll clear your head and make you feel refreshed. Twitter Eye Spy Every day through May, Swindon Travel Choices will tweet a “picture a day” using the hashtag #eyespy. The pictures will be of Swindon places and landmarks that people can only see by walking or cycling around the area. There are prizes to be won every day, so whether you’re walking or cycling to work, to school or just for pleasure, keep an eye out for our landmarks and join in the fun. Follow us on Twitter @Swindon_Travel
Walking Get Festival Moving Month
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rg.uk o . e t u o r w. s m a r t ww Is your child moving on to secondary school this year? Check out our website – www.smartroute.org.uk and help them think about the choices they have to make about their journeys to school. New printed travel guides are available for Lydiard Park Academy, St Joseph’s College, Kingsdown School and Highworth Warneford School. You can also download them from our website. (Coming soon for Isambard School and Swindon Academy too!) Order your FREE copy by emailing stars@swindon.gov.uk
Tel: 01793 445500 Fax: 01793 463982 E-mail: customerservices@swindon.gov.uk
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This information is available on the internet at www.swindon.gov.uk It can be produced in a range of languages and formats (such as large print, Braille or other accessible formats) by contacting the Customer Services Department.