Let’s get walking this May

May is National Walking Month - the perfect time to celebrate the simple yet powerful act of walking and wheeling. With benefits for your health, the planet, and your wallet, walking and wheeling more can help you and your community.

Living Streets, the charity that organises the annual event, is asking people to #Try20 and walk for 20 minutes every day during the month.

Visit their website for their 20 tips to introduce 20 minutes of walking and wheeling into your day.

Introducing this daily habit can provide lots of benefits.

Improve your health and wellbeing

Walking or wheeling is one of the easiest ways to improve physical and mental wellbeing. Just 20 minutes of walking a day can help reduce the risk of heart disease, improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen muscles, and boost mental clarity. Unlike intensive workouts, walking or wheeling is gentle on joints and accessible to all fitness levels. Being out in the fresh air and closer to nature also help lower stress and enhance mood—making every step a stride toward better wellbeing.

Cut your carbon footprint

Transport is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, with car use significantly increasing pollution. By swapping short car journeys for walking, individuals can actively reduce their environmental impact. Walking short journeys instead of driving helps to cut emissions and decreases air pollution, leading to cleaner, healthier communities. Choosing to walk or wheel more, whether to work, the shops, or social events, is one way we can all play our part to help west Cheshire become a net zero borough by 2045.

Save money while you walk

Not only does walking or wheeling require zero fuel, but it also reduces transportation costs—whether on petrol, parking, or public transport fares. Regularly walking or wheeling instead of using motorised transport saves money on expenses while reducing wear on vehicles.

National Walk to School Week – 19 – 23 May

National Walk to School Week takes place within National Walking Month. One of the most impactful ways to reduce congestion and pollution while supporting children’s health is walking to and from school. Traffic can increase in our communities during school drop-off and pick-up times, increasing air pollution and safety risks. Encouraging walking or wheeling helps with the following benefits.

• Improve health and wellbeing: Walking daily helps children stay active, promoting stronger bones, muscles, and mental wellbeing.
• Reduce congestion outside schools: Fewer cars mean safer routes for children and cleaner air in school neighbourhoods.
• Enhance independence and social skills: Walking allows children to explore their surroundings and engage with friends.
• Create greener, healthier communities: Less traffic and pollution make school environments more pleasant for students and residents.

Parents can encourage walking by arranging walking groups, setting safe routes, and making walking a fun and rewarding habit. Schools can support initiatives by providing incentives for pupils who regularly walk, making the journey to school an exciting and social event.

There are lots of resources on the Living Streets website for both schools and families.

Let’s Walk - pedestrian training

The Council’s Road Safety Team run a child pedestrian training programme for local schools called Let’s Walk, which aims to prepare children to become safer, independent pedestrians by teaching them essential road crossing skills at the roadside.

Children in year 3 and 4 can take part in the programme which consists of a theory classroom session with the activity books provided, followed by two one-hour practical roadside training sessions per small group of children (ten or less). This is led by volunteer instructors from school or local PCSOs who will be fully trained and supported by the Road Safety team.

All children will also receive an activity book filled with fun things to complete, that cover the eight Steps of Crossing the Road, Walking Straight Across the Road, Safer Crossing Places, Crossing in Difficult Places, Busy and Quiet Roads, Stopping Distances, Planning Safer Routes, and Finding a Safer Place to Play.

The aim of the course is to encourage children and parents to walk safely to school and therefore reduce traffic and congestion at the school gate.

If your school is interested in getting involved, please email: roadsafety@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for further information.