Walk England Professional Network (WEPN) – London region
Monday 10 November 2008
London led the walking agenda nationally in 1993 when it set up the London Walking Forum. At its peak it had more than 500 contacts and was instrumental in setting up the first international Walk21 conference; providing evidence to the government’s Select Committee hearing; and ensuring walking appeared in the first Mayor’s Transport Strategy.The City of London, who coordinated the Forum, remains committed to the regional agenda and continues to deliver the successful Walk London partnership with TfL funding across the Capital.
London has taken the lead again by launching the first Walk England Professional Network - attended by more than 150 people from across health and highway authorities with responsibility for delivering walking projects.
The networks have three aims:
1. To extend the vision of what is possible at national, regional and local levels
2. To develop practical projects that will let more people walk in London
3. To share ideas and help with the delivery and monitoring of walking initiatives so that they can be as effective as possible.
We were delighted to have Valerie Shawcross, Chair of the Transport Scrutiny Committee, to Chair the event who called for a more detailed and coherent cost benefit study of walking and more support for boroughs in delivering projects. (Walk England will be talking to The Department for Transport about this before Christmas and hope for support from such a study can be published by the summer).
Valerie Shawcross addressing the delegates. (L to R: Valerie Shawcross, Dr Simon Tanner, Kulveer Ranger and Jim Walker).
Dr Simon Tanner, Regional Director for Public Health and responsible for the health of 8m people reminded the Network that more than half of Londoners do no activity at all to benefit their health and that if we, collectively, could address this – we would be saving the NHS £2bn per year (2% of the budget) and 800 people from dying prematurely. He particularly called the Network to inspire people to walk close to their homes – to work with each other to ensure people don’t feel ‘trapped by crime, congestion and unfriendly streets‘.
Kulveer Ranger, Director of Transport Strategy in The Mayor’s office with a responsibility for steering an £8bn annual investment, invited the Network to comment on ‘The Way 2 Go’ policy document that was recently launched and ‘has walking fundamental to its vision’. He identified the 1.7m car trips a day that are less than 1km long and 109 tube connections which are quicker to walk as potential quick wins for the Network to help deliver more walking in London. He was questioned as to why Oyster card users were punished for walking these links (such as Euston to St Pancras) and he committed to look into this.
Kulveer called for clutter to be removed, more trees to be planted and Legible London to be implemented across the Capital to ‘help bring back pride to our streets and a sense of community’. ‘Walking is key to our approach’ he said, but ‘it is too often marginalised in budgets, strategic plans and growth strategies’. He called for ‘greater recognition and prioritorisation politically for walking’. Please do comment on the policy and be informed by the Walk England response - a copy of which can be found on our website.
Mark Davey, a web expert and marketing technologist, illustrated the opportunities for using web 2.0 technology to encourage more people to walk. He explored the potential of Google maps and street view to be used on mobile phones and invited the network to discuss how such applications could improve on London’s existing journey planner and Legible London ambitions.
Dr William Bird continued the mornings presentations with information on the importance of greenspace to complement pro-walking policies to tackle the social isolation that is known to induce chronic stress. ‘94% of people would walk if their GP told them to’ he said but we need led walking schemes (such as WHI), walking maps around GP Practices, training and more widespread use of the Outdoor Health questionnaire to support what he described as the evolution of a ‘Natural Health Service’.
A great turnout - delegates enjoy the exhibition during the morning break
Following the workshop sessions the Network agreed that they should meet again, potentially in March. There was a call for more links with colleagues in sport and with the private sector but there was a general appreciation that it had been a very worthwhile day.
Read speaker and workshop presentations
Read Walk Englands official response to Way 2 Go
Everyone in the Network was invited to comment on the Way 2 go strategy; keep in touch with each other by joining the debates online (to progress monitoring, social marketing and mobile mapping tools in particular); and to come back with colleagues to future events. The next few months will be critical to ensure walking is visible in policy and budgets for next financial year. If you have ideas or want to be part of pushing the agenda strategically do get in touch with us!
We look forward to seeing you again soon
Jim Walker
Chief Executive/Walk England
Lunchtime walking in the rain!
by Gordon Clarke
The Walk England - Allotment Walk (Expedition) was a walk for the most committed of walkers and vaguely curious. The lunchtime activity commenced from No 1 Great George Street (on the corner of St James Park) at approximately 1240pm and included a total of 18 people. The distance from the start was approximately 800 – 1000 metres to our final destination at the allotments in St James Park. Only 18 people wishing to see “allotments” in St James Park? The very fact that there are allotments in a Royal Park in central London should have attracted huge numbers. Ah, did I not mention that the heavens had opened up and torrential rain drenched everyone!!!
Gordon with his umbrella after the walk - pity he forgot to take it with him in the rain!
When we arrived at the allotments we were advised about the 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste'. The 'Dig for Victory: War on Waste' organic allotment was promoting sustainability and recycling and was tended by school groups and community volunteers throughout the summer. It provided a working example of how to grow fruit and vegetables; attract wildlife and recycle waste. Admission was free of charge. In 2007, the project delivered 130 school sessions and welcomed over 100,000 visitors. The theme of this year's allotment 'War on Waste' - it was inspired by the 'Ministry of Food's wartime rationing and salvage campaigns. A temporary display at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Room accompanied the project. 'Dig for Victory: Make-do and Mend' featured clothes rationing and the impact of 'Make-do and Mend' clothing and recycling principles on modern fashion.
Special features of the allotment included an apiary; a wormery; a bat house; bug hotels; and practical advice on how to recycle ordinary household items. The allotment is now closed to the public although a new theme will be introduced next spring 2009. A Dig for Victory blog and Flickr site can be accessed via the Dig for Victory micro site.
The allotment will open every day next year (dates to be confirmed) between 10am and 5pm. For further details about the project and other events please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk
We all returned drenched but we all enjoyed the experience and opportunity.