Get your walking shoes on for pleasure, community connections and health and wellbeing benefits, says Wanstead resident Liz Hickson, founder of Social Knitworks and now Social Walking
The pandemic may seem a long time ago now, and although it was such a terrible time for everyone in so many different ways, one of the good things that came out of it is that it got many people active again, either cycling or walking. I know I loved my evening walks and found them to be a really great way to process what was happening in the world around me. It was also a great time to put my phone on silent and ignore the buzzes, pings and beeps that we are ever-increasingly addicted to.
I’ve always been quite active but I think what the pandemic taught me is that walking is good for mental health – and I began to crave my walks, noticing how much better I felt after. And, over the course of 2020 and 2021, I learnt so much more, not only about my immediate surroundings but also Epping Forest more broadly.
Fast forward to 2023 and I became a leader for Capital Walkers. But having established Social Knitworks in 2019, I began to wonder whether I could also set up Social Walking, a group for people who don’t want to travel too far for the start of a walk, but who also want to walk five miles or more with people from their community. After a few posts on Facebook, Social Walking was tentatively born. Still in its infancy, so far we have done Saturday walks from Wanstead through the forest to Chingford, and also a walk through the forest from Loughton to Theydon Bois, as well as two Friday evening walks of four miles, both of which have ended at The Cuckfield (which is rapidly becoming the social focal point of Social Walking). We also teamed up with my rambling group on a Sunday in April to walk from Leytonstone, across Wanstead Flats and into Wanstead Park to see the bluebells, and after returning to Wanstead, yes, you guessed it, some of us headed to The Cuckfield for Sunday lunch!
For me, it’s great to see walkers making new community connections and discovering things about the area in which they live. I love showing people what I discovered on my pandemic walks, from how to get to Chingford off-road to the stories and history of Loughton Camp (it’s amazing the forest on our doorstep has so much history).
Social Walking is open to everyone. The only ask is you must be able to walk at around two and a half miles per hour for five to seven miles, but we will always include a break.
In addition to the community aspects of Social Walking, there are also the associated health benefits, including improved mood, stress relief and increased energy (with a boosted blood flow to muscles and the brain). There is also evidence that brisk walking is linked to improved sleep quality and that walking in nature can improve self-esteem.
For more information on future Social Walking events and to take part, visit lizzieofizzie@gmail.com
Planned future walks include the 6-7 mile Oak Trail, a circular walk from Theydon Bois. This will take place on Sunday 14th July and will be timed to be back in Theydon Bois for 2.30pm to enjoy the annual Theydon Bois Donkey Derby which is huge amounts of fun. In addition, I’m planning to lead “Walk the Line” (a five mile art trail from the Olympic Park to Greenwich) as well as a walk from Epping via Copped Hall to Loughton. Although walkers undertake walks at their own risk, all walks are walked by me in advance so that I can understand any risk factors (mainly tree roots and having to cross a few roads). Walks are free to attend but if walkers would like to make a charitable donation – a donation of up to £5 per walk is appreciated which I donate to local charities.
