6 Benefits of Walking (apart from getting close to birds)

I had a change of scenery last week.  Flew to Shetland where I saw this little fellow and some of his companions.  More of Shetland in another post.

I enjoyed some wonderful walks there, and picked up a leaflet in the tourist office about walking routes.  It was called "Walking to Health", and listed the following benefits of walking as an exercise -

• It gives you more energy
• you have stronger, more toned, muscles
• it lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke or osteoporosis
• you gain a sense of well-being
• you sleep better, and
• your confidence improves as you realise what you can achieve.

With Nordic Walking, you should gain all that and more, as you are exercising your whole body.
The leaflet also suggested keeping a diary, detailing your walks - how long you walked for, what you saw, and how you felt at the end.   Sound advice for any walker.  You'd be amazed at the ground covered and sights seen in a few weeks....

[Egyptian geese inspecting Nordic Walking poles, Bushy Park]

[Herons see so many Nordic Walkers in Bushy Park, they tend to ignore us!]

If you want to enjoy the benefits of Nordic Walking, please do get in touch.  I'll be holding the next taster session (£5), in Bushy Park on August 14th.  The planned session on the 7th is cancelled.  Please call or email for details.

Peter

07703-404-931

London Parks' wildlife - a bit like Africa

[Stag in evening light, Bushy Park]

This week has seen the glorious weather break, which will come as a relief to some Nordic Walkers.  One good thing about Bushy and Richmond Parks is the abundance of trees providing welcome shade (or shelter from the occasional shower).

[Fallow deer enjoying the shade]

The rainfall has been so low locally that some parts of Richmond Park resemble an African scene, with herds of ungulates slowly moving across the plain of waving golden grass.

This photo was taken in Tanzania.  These are young impala, known to some safari buffs as the "McDonalds of the Serengeti", as they are eaten by almost everything.    Not seen in the London Parks, but, who knows, perhaps the deer population needs a natural enemy to keep the numbers down.

It would make walking interesting if a predator were introduced.... an incentive to not lag behind the group?

[Cheetah - not seen in Richmond Park]

.................................................
We are walking again in Bushy Park on Saturday, as usual.  I am hoping to see one of our regular walkers again who has been away for a few weeks, rehearsing and performing on her new album, which has gone to No. 1 !
http://www.rockchoir.com/

There's an appearance of her group, Rock Choir, on BBC One on Friday 16th at 7pm.  I won't give out any more details in case we are pestered by autograph hunters.

If you want to meet a rock star, see deer, hear about Africa, or enjoy Nordic Walking, or do all of these AT THE SAME TIME, then join us for Nordic Walking in Bushy Park on Saturdays.  The next taster session will be at 11am in Bushy Park on 31st July.   Give me a call to arrange a session.

Peter

07703-404-931

Bambi arrives in Bushy Park

Despite the bracken growing to head height recently, making deer sightings more difficult, Nordic Walkers in Bushy Park have had some great views of the deer.   Yesterday, while we were doing our warm-down stretches, a herd with some young trotted past, and then stopped to feed the fawns......

[Feeding time at the creche]

[Running with the herd]

[Learning to cross the road with Mum]

The stags are around, too, but tricky to see as they spend much of the time in the cool of the bracken, with sometimes only the tips of their antlers giving away their presence.

[Antlers in the bracken]

The high temperatures have meant the stags have sought out any shade available.  Their antlers still appear to be growing and still with a covering of velvet.

[More antlers than you can shake a stick at]

Fallow deer are smaller than red deer, and have white spots.  The stags also have smaller, but broader, antlers than the red deer stags.

Bushy Park has a couple of wooded areas which are fenced, so deer have not been able to graze on the trees.   The variety of trees and shrubs is very different from the general oaks, chestnuts, and limes found throughout the park.  There's several small lakes and streams here as well, making it a lovely place for a picnic - no interruptions from hungry deer.

[Nordic Walking in Woodland Gardens, Bushy Park.]

If you want to explore Bushy Park and get fit at the same time, please give me a call.

If you already walk, you might be interested in local events. This one, Walk Ten in Richmond Park, is to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care, and allows you to enjoy a walk in the evening and then a picnic after the park has closed to most visitors.

http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/events/walking/Richmond+Park.htm

I'll look out for other such events and help you get fit so that you enjoy them.  The body I belong to, Nordic Walking UK, also has a Walk-finder facility.  I'm sure you'll find something to suit you.

http://www.nordicwalking.co.uk/findawalk

I'll be holding taster sessions on Saturday 10th and 31st July, so let me know if you wish to try the sport.

Peter
07703-404-931

Race for Life

Last Sunday, saw several Nordic Walkers participate in the Cancer Research "Race for Life" 5km walk/run/jog around Old Deer Park in Richmond.

Although it was very hot, the Nordic Walkers completed the route in fast times (around 3-4 mph pace). But the heat did show the importance of drinking plenty of water as you walk, perhaps investing in a backpack system which you can sip from through a tube as you walk.

[Warming down after the event]

However, considering it is not that long since some of the participants didn't know if they could walk that distance at that pace, it was a great personal achievement for some.

And a great charity for which to raise money.  You can find out more about it and these types of events here -
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

I run regular Saturday morning walks in Bushy Park.  If you wish more details of walking to increase your fitness, please call or email me to arrange a taster session.

Peter
07703-404-931