Walking Lunch

3 September 2013

Walking Lunch

An opportunity for staff to stretch their legs. So get away from the desk and get some fresh air. Oh, and it’s good for your health too.

In the last week it has been hard to avoid news coverage of how we should all be walking and cycling instead of driving. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have published advice urging local authorities, health bodies and workplaces to do everything they can to assist ‘active travel’.  With the NICE report identifying “almost two-thirds of men and nearly three-quarters of women in England are not sufficiently active to maintain their health”, walking or cycling short journeys becomes an increasingly attractive choice over sitting in the car. 

Did you know…

…the average Briton is now walking or cycling 80 miles a year less now than they did a decade ago

… the percentage of journeys made by bike remains at about 2%, against 26% for the Netherlands and 19% in Denmark. _{(NICE, 2012)}

So this walking stuff may be worth a try.  Good for body, mind and soul (and doesn’t involve consumption of petrol or listening to traffic reports telling you how long you are going to be stuck in the queue on Whiteladies Road…)

Linked to the Staff Club, a walking group meet on Wednesdays, at 1.10pm, outside the sports centre.  Not only do walkers get to do some light activity, they also get to explore the local area and meet others from across the institution.

Further information and registration details available on the website or from the walk leader