The pandemic has encouraged even more of us to embrace walking as fundamental to our daily life, health and happiness. As a walking enthusiast and advocate, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting up with some fantastic movements and groups that have the art, science or wonder of urban walking at their centre. Of course these movements also attract fellow urban walkers. We are ultimately a community of people that love our green urban spaces and believe in a positive, connected and creative future. Here are a few movements that I find myself frequently recommending:
- Living Streets is the UK charity for every day walking. Their mission is to achieve a better walking environment and inspire people to walk more. This includes all sorts of campaigns such as encouraging children to walk to school and pedestrianisation of streets.
- Street Wisdom is a social enterprise with a mission to bring inspiration to every street on earth. They have regular, free workshops in person around the world and online, that show how to use wandering to tune in to the streets and gain answers.
- Go Jauntly is the go to app for finding new, green and/or healthy walk routes.
- The London National Park City movement reclassified the city of London as a national park. The aim is to make the city greener, healthier and wilder and get Londoners enjoying the great outdoors more. As well as events they have volunteer opportunities.
- The Tranquil City project explores areas of calm in the city. They have a series of maps that city dwellers can use or contribute to showing tranquil spaces, often hidden gems, in London.
- The Walking Artist Network was one of the first movements I joined and opened up a new world of walking, art and artists. The mailing list shares a variety of events, publications and conversations and the website is full of excellent walking resources. Do also check out Walk Listen Create.
- Ramblers is an active campaign group and also organises lots of walks from short urban strolls to more demanding long walks.
- The Urban Tree Festival is all about the trees but you can’t enjoy trees without walking. Plus, knowing more about city trees significantly enhances the wonder of walking.
Let me know any walking movements I have missed and should add to this list.
Join the Mind Powered Walking Club – online walk every Tuesday morning.
Sign up to #WalkWednesday – a weekly invitation to wander, be present and ponder.
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