Written by Hannah Westwood
You may have noticed that across our social medias we are running our #WeeklyWalk feature, bringing you a nature picture every Saturday and suggesting that everyone makes time to get out for a walk at least once a week. We wanted a feature that would encourage our followers to look after their mental wellbeing, as this is something that is really important to us as a society. We chose walking as this is an accessible activity, and as an environmental society, we want to encourage our followers to connect with nature.
Walking has many benefits that go beyond physical health. According to the charity Walking for Health, walking has a range of mental health benefits from improving self-perception to reducing stress, anxiety and fatigue. Plus, by getting some exercise in, you will feel more tired at the end of the day, which can improve your sleep quality, contributing to an improved mental health. According to Mind, getting some regular physical exercise can reduce the likelihood of experiencing a period of depression. One of the most important things when it comes to walking and other forms of exercise is sticking to a regular routine, which is why we want to encourage you to get out for a walk at least once a week! Overall, there are great physical and mental health benefits of walking, and we want to make sure that everyone feels they are able to find somewhere to walk once back at uni.
Whether you’re a fresher or going into your final year, we hope that you find somewhere new to walk with the suggestions in this blog post. If uni is getting a bit stressful or you’re feeling cooped up with online classes, getting out for a walk can be really important, and our favourite locations are listed below.
1. Victoria Park
Located right on the edge of campus, Victoria Park is probably the most accessible spot for everyone to go for a walk. With plenty of paths and green spaces, it’s the perfect place to have a walk before or after you’ve been on campus, and on sunny days you might even find an ice cream van! It’s also very close for those living in Clarendon and Evington.
2. Bradgate Park
This one is a little further afield, so you will need a car to get there, but it’s a great day out. Bradgate park is really big, so there’s plenty to explore and you can walk a different route each time. It’s perfect for going with your flatmates or bubble for a walk and a picnic, and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to get pretty close to some deer! You can also explore the ruins of Bradgate House, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey. If you do decide to visit, don’t forget to take money for the car park, which is collected to maintain the park for visitors.
3. Oadby Botanical Gardens
Close to the student village in Oadby, you can find the Harold Martin Botanical Gardens on Glebe Road. Opened and managed by the uni, the gardens are home to many different species of plants, and it is used to promote the importance of biodiversity, which is very important to us as a society. Unfortunately the gardens are currently closed for safety reasons, but you can check here on the website for the latest opening information.
4. Leicester Canal
The canal is located towards town, on the Evington side of uni. If you’re living in a student house there or in the city accommodation, it’s a great place to get out and walk along away from the roads and the busy city. It connects a lot of places, so it’s also a good scenic route to take if you’re walking into town. Do be aware that the canal path is quite narrow, and can become busy at popular times, which may make social distancing difficult. It’s also one to avoid if you’re scared of swans!
We hope that these walking locations get you started with somewhere you can get out and explore! If you go for a walk, don’t forget to take a photo and tag us for a chance to be featured on our page for our #WeeklyWalk!
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