Sutton Council is encouraging workers to swap four wheels for two feet during Walk to Work Week.
Part of Living Streets’ National Walking Month, a month dedicated to celebrating the benefits of walking, Walk to Work Week (12-20 May) is an opportunity for workers to ditch the car and try walking to work instead.
By registering on the National Walk to Work Week website Sutton residents will be able keep track of their walking, see the miles they’ve walked and the calories burnt, even earning online ‘rewards’ for their achievements.
You can register online at: http://www.mylivingstreets.org.uk
Experts recommend that adults should be active for 30 minutes a day for at least five days of the week. This required 30 minutes can be made up of shorter bouts of 10 to 15 minutes, making walking an ideal way to hit the target.
Walking can help with:
- Disease prevention
- Weight management and the prevention of associated illnesses
- Positive mental health promotion
Mary Morrissey, Strategic Director Environment and Neighbourhood at Sutton Council said
“National Walk to Work Week is the ideal time to give walking a go. Walking to work may not be suitable for everyone but a large proportion of people do travel walkable distances to work. It is an easy form of exercise; it’s free; and requires no special equipment. I hope that as many people as possible are able to take part.”
The week long initiative was welcomed by locally based environmental and sustainability charity BioRegional, which partners with the council on a pioneering One Planet Sutton plan.
Lorie McManus Regeneration and Energy Officer at BioRegional said:
“One Planet Sutton is about helping people in Sutton to live happy, healthy lives within a fair share of the Earth’s resources. Walking to work instead of taking the car is a great way of doing this; it is good for you, good for your pocket and good for the planet.”