Walking Groups Making Great Strides In Mansfield

More Leisure Community Trust (MLCT) has launched a short-walks walking group to help ease people into gentle exercise, following research that found over 40% of Mansfield residents don’t walk for more than 10 minutes at a time in a month.

Walking is a great way to take part in gentle exercise, and the advantage of doing it as part of a group, is that you can also benefit from the social aspect of having a chat whilst you're doing it. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can improve your cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, increase movement in your joints and boost muscle power.

The walking group has three sessions a week. One begins at Oak Tree Leisure Centre on Mondays, one from the Carrs, Warsop (NG20 0SF) on Tuesdays and one from Water Meadows Leisure Complex on a Wednesday. All walks start off at 2pm.

This new activity has been launched via MCLT’s Active Communities programme, which is overseen by Carolyn Hallam, the Trust’s Health and Wellbeing Manager. She said: “We have identified a need for shorter, gentle walks, so ours last around 30-45 minutes and are ideal for those who want to get out and about, enjoy the fresh air and have a chat, but don’t feel ready for the longer sessions offered by other walking groups.

“The walks are free to attend, and each location has a car park. People can purchase refreshments at Oak Tree Leisure Centre and Water Meadows Leisure Complex, where there are also toilet facilities. There’s no need to book. Just turn up in comfortable footwear, ready for whatever weather we’re getting that day, and let’s go for a gentle stroll around Mansfield!”