Why Is Walking Good For You?

Growing medical evidence shows that access to the natural environment improves health and wellbeing, prevents disease and helps people recover from illness. Experiencing nature in the outdoors can help maintain a healthy weight for both children and adults and prevent a range of lifestyle illnesses, for example coronary heart disease, diabetes (type 2). It can also reduce stress and has a positive impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Adults who become more active halve their risk of dying early from heart disease. People using the natural environment keep active longer.

Sunderland's Wellness Service is working closely with Natural England and their Walking for Health scheme to increase participation in regular walking.

By 2012 it is hoped that Sunderland will have increased the number of people walking regularly by over 4,000.