BH Live launches health walks programme

BH Live is launching a series of health walks around Kinson, Littledown and Boscombe in a bid to get more people, more active.

Weekly 45-minute guided walks are open to all and are open to anyone to just turn up and take part.

They will start in Boscombe during April with additional monthly routes around Kinson and Littledown beginning in May.

This walking programme is led by BH Live in partnership with Walking for Health, England's largest network of health walks, and supported by LiveWell Dorset and Bournemouth University.

"Regular walking at a good pace has many benefits for health and is also a very sociable activity – best of all it is free says BH Live's Health and Wellbeing Manager, Kate Rogers.

"While many residents across Bournemouth regularly enjoy getting active there is still more to be done to encourage people to take part in regular physical activity - especially in some of the town's more deprived areas.

"We have identified that factors such as cost, transport and ability get in the way for some people. So by introducing free and supported accessible activities right in the heart of the most inactive communities we are more likely to encourage people to join in and move more – which in turn could have a positive impact on public health."

During April, weekly community circuits exercise classes are also launching at the Neptune Harvester adjacent to Boscombe Pier. These will be delivered by BH Live in partnership with Active Dorset. A session costs just £1 per person to participate and is ideal for people over 16 years old who want to try out group exercise classes.

In the coming months, BH Live will be rolling out the healthy walks scheme across Portsmouth and Poole, in conjunction with current providers, to broaden its existing activity programme and reach even more inactive people.