FREE group walks and events are taking place throughout May as the Walk Leicester festival returns.
Now in its seventh year, Walk Leicester is a month-long celebration of walking and its benefits for our health, happiness and the environment. It’s a chance to explore and discover the city on foot, with themed walks encompassing local history and archaeology, wildlife and ecology – as well as providing lots of chances to simply walk in a group for pleasure.
The festival kicks off on 1 May with a friendly group walk from the city centre to the café at Gorse Hill City Farm, taking a two-mile scenic route through the pleasant green spaces of the Rally and Stokeswood parks, via the Orchards local nature reserve.
From 6-9 May, De Montfort University will be hosting Medieval Campus walks. Starting at Leicester Castle, these will be packed with fascinating historical facts courtesy of DMU Museum. They will explore the medieval history surrounding the campus, encompassing the castle motte and Great Hall, the exterior of St Mary de Castro, Turret Gate, Trinity Hospital, Chantry House and the Church of the Annunciation, with a chance to enter buildings usually inaccessible to the public.
On 15 May, a wildlife guide will lead a Walk on the Wild Side at Watermead Park to talk about seasonal plants and animals found there, while on 16 and again on 27 May, the Canal & River Trust will host a waterside Dragonfly Safari along the River Soar, with the chance to spot lots of local insect life.
The last journeys of King Richard III will form the basis of two walks hosted by the Council for British Archaeology on 17 May, taking in the routes of the King’s fateful last journeys in and out of central Leicester in 1485. A local historian will also provide an insight into the behind-the-scenes work that went on in preparation for the King's reinterment in 2015.
And during half term at the end of the month, Funky Feet and Wacky Wheels (pictured) will return to Abbey Park. This fun, free event for families includes lots of activity trails, and the chance to decorate your shoes, bike or scooter. It runs from 11am-2pm on 28 May and there’s no need to book, you can just turn up.
Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor responsible for public health, parks, trees and woodlands, said: “The Walk Leicester festival offers people the chance to make new friends, discover new routes and learn more about the fascinating history of our city.
“We’re also very lucky in Leicester to have so many parks and open spaces for people to walk through, many of which have tree trails you can follow to find out more about our vast range of specimen trees. Walking in such environments is proven to boost your mood and help with mental wellbeing, so I hope that lots of people will enjoy our tree trails, park routes and wildlife walks as part of the Walk Leicester festival.”
Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “Leicester is a great place to explore on foot. We’ve invested in dedicated walking and cycling routes that make it safe and easy to get around. The Walk Leicester Festival is the perfect opportunity to try them out.”
May is National Walking Month, aimed at helping people to discover how walking can improve your physical fitness and mental wellbeing. Last year, research conducted by Living Streets, the charity behind National Walking Month, showed that 54% of people in Britain said they walk to improve their mental health and happiness. Other reasons for walking included to get fresh air, move more and connect with nature.
Find out more about the Walk Leicester festival at https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/walkleicester/
Find out more about National Walking Month at https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/national-walking-month/
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