BackResidents invited to discover the hidden history and architecture of Wanstead through free guided walks in the area
Residents of Wanstead are invited to join local resident John Goodman and national charity Living Streets in two guided walks around Wanstead, in celebration of the areas rich history and the recent improvements made to the pedestrian environments around the high street.
To join the walks, meet at: The display board outside Somerfield on the High Street on Wednesday 23rd September and Tuesday 29th September, 11am.
National Charity Living Streets will be teaming up with John Goodman and the Wanstead Society through their Fitter for Walking and Step Out in London projects, to encourage more walking in the local area and to encourage people to feel proud of their neighbourhood.
Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, launched the Fitter for Walking project last year to help local people overcome barriers to walking, and to promote more local walking journeys. Living Streets’ Step Out in London project has also been working in the area to increase footfall on the High Street following recent improvements, such as increasing lighting, improving paving and clearing excess street clutter.
Jack Skillen, Fitter for Walking Manager, has been working closely with Redbridge Council and local community groups with the aim of making improvements to the local walking environment and encouraging more people to walk in their community. With funding from the Big Lottery Fund and London Councils, the Wanstead walks are designed to encourage people to get to know their local area better and the proximity of local places of interest on foot. Entitled ‘The Heart of old Wanstead’ and ‘The Grandeur of Wanstead’ residents will be able to see a side of Wanstead that they may not have been aware of before and allow them to learn about the rich history of their local area. During the walks, quirky information, hidden gems and local knowledge will be added to a new ‘walking map’ which will be produced of the local area.
Local businesses are also keen to increase local pedestrian footfall so are advertising the walks to customers.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for residents of Wanstead to really get to know their local area. Our high streets are best explored on foot and the recent improvements in Wanstead by the council and TfL mean that walking around and enjoying the streets has never been so accessible.
“There are so many benefits to walking, not just to make the roads less congested and polluted, but to develop more of a community as you get to know your local area better. We are really excited about these walks and encourage local residents to come down and join us.”
John Goodman, walk leader said:
"The idea behind these walks is to persuade people that Wanstead and its history can be enjoyed so much more without a car. The first walk will take in Christchurch Green, the Eagle pond and the High Street and the second will explore Wanstead Park and the influence of the Wanstead House estate on the landscape. Items of historical and architectural interest will be pointed out along the way and we hope that local residents will come and join us to find out more about their local area.”
If you would like anymore information about the walks, please contact Jack Skillen on 020 7377 4912 or email jack.skillen@livingstreets.org.uk.
ENDS
If you would like to find out more information, or to interview Jack Skillen about the projects in the area, please contact Anna Powell, Press Officer at anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk, tel: 020 7377 4914.
Notes to editors
Living Streets’ Fitter for Walking project is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by a Consortium of the leading walking cycling and health organisations and funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Wellbeing Programme. The Programme provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being.
The Consortium is led by Sustrans and includes British Cycling, CTC, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers’ Association, Campaign for Better Transport and Walk 21. It is delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable two million people nationwide to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives by 2012.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
Living Streets’ Step Out in London project, funded by London Councils, is a new project working to promote more walking where physical environment improvements have been implemented across London. It will be implemented across 12 locations in London.
Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we campaign to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 21/09/2009
