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Natural England’s Walking for Health initiative encourages people, particularly those who take little exercise, to do regular short walks in their communities, enjoying their local natural spaces and benefiting their health by taking part in health walks. Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust (PCT) were already providing 17 weekly walks led by 138 volunteers.

However, volunteer walk leaders requested further information on local heritage topics to supplement their chosen walks and to enhance the experience for participants. A variety of local experts and consultants were subsequently engaged to provide indoor and outdoor sessions geared to a wide variety of local natural and cultural heritage subjects. Thus, what were once simply 'health walks' began a process of evolution to a more complete recreational experience for participants. Maps, information guides and literature to support the training and to allow for independent walking were also produced.

Although the walks were already well attended the aim of the project was to introduce new areas of specific historical and heritage interest and also to encourage new people to volunteer as leaders. With this project the PCT wanted to target people in areas of high deprivation and people with health problems and disabilities who were not participating in the existing walks.

• To train existing and new volunteers in the cultural and natural heritage of the areas covered by walks in order to attract new participants in the walks and enhance the experience of current participants.
• To produce literature and interpretation to support the walks and to encourage independent walking.
• To improve the health and well-being of the local population, especially from areas of high deprivation, by offering regular walks of various lengths, with some accessible to wheelchair and push-chair users and to make the walks more informative and enjoyable for all by the provision of the interpretation.

• New audiences are being introduced to the cultural and natural heritage of the area, stimulating their interest, appreciation of and participation in heritage topics and themes.
• Heritage information is provided on interpretation boards, leaflets, maps and exhibition displays which have also been used at libraries, leisure centres, community centres and GP surgeries.

• People’s knowledge and interest in the history and heritage of the areas covered by the various walks has increased.
• Volunteer walk leaders have been trained in the history and heritage of the areas through which they are leading walks.
• Opportunities for new volunteer walk leaders to be recruited and trained have been created.
• By participating in the walks people’s physical and mental health and well-being has improved.

• The success of this project is based upon a flexible 'bottom-up' approach whereby participants select from a wide variety of topics and subsequently request which they want prioritised prior to implementation.

• Improved health and well-being of local people, especially those from areas of high deprivation with health problems and disabilities.
• New walks have been created and numbers of walk attendees have increased accordingly.
• More volunteers are available to lead walks.
• Some volunteers have also volunteered for other heritage related organisations which they have encountered during these sessions.

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