Behind the scenes - a fortnight to go!

Discovering Slow Ways

In this our final episode of the series,  we are discovering Slow Ways, an organisation that got going during the lockdowns of 2020. It was started by Dan Raven-Ellison who had an epiphany moment while walking the Pilgrims’ Way from Salisbury to Winchester realising we have lost the culture of using footpaths to visit our family and friends or even just to get to work. And out of that moment a network of 7,000 Slow Ways has emerged. We first meet Saira Niazi, the community stories lead for Slow Ways and hear more about the organisation. Following this I try one of them out - I walked along the river Frome from Bristol city centre to Hambrook. The route is called BRIHAM One. We meet Jean making the community garden at Snuff Mills look beautiful, also a wet dog and a long distance runner make an appearance! Bristol Walk Fest runs from 1st - 31st May 2022. Bristol Walk Fest is coordinated by Active Ageing Bristol, hosted by Age UK Bristol with funding from Bristol City Council and Bristol Ramblers. For more information about the festival visit www.bristolwalkfest.com [https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/] This episode was sponsored by Slow Ways. Credits Hosted and Produced by: Pommy Harmar pommyharmar@yahoo.co.uk Music: Joshua Empyre [https://www.empyreanma.com/welcome] Links www.bristolwalkfest.com www.slowways.org

Bristol Walk Fest 2022 begins!

The festival is starting! It gets going on Sunday May 1st and a number of the walks are being organised by the Bristol Ramblers. In this episode the Chair of the Bristol Ramblers Heather Toyne joins us and tells us what walking means to her, how it runs in the family and what we might expect if we join them. We hear from local Bristol Ramblers Marlies Morsink, Ian Brown and Carolyn MacNicholas who tell us why they love walking with the Bristol Ramblers. Our resident rambling expert Nigel Andrews informs us about navigation and long distance walking. Plus eccles cakes make an appearance.....! Bristol Walk Fest runs from 1st - 31st May 2022. Bristol Walk Fest is coordinated by Active Ageing Bristol, hosted by Age UK Bristol with funding from Bristol City Council and Bristol Ramblers. For more information about the festival visit www.bristolwalkfest.com [https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/] Credits Hosted and Produced by: Pommy Harmar pommyharmar@yahoo.co.uk Music: Joshua Empyre [https://www.empyreanma.com/welcome] Links Ramblers - www.ramblers.org.uk Bristol Ramblers - www.bristolramblers.org.uk www.facebook.com/groups/bristolramblersgroup

Behind the scenes - a fortnight to go!

It’s only a couple of weeks now until the festival begins (1st - 31st May) and so in this episode I go behind the scenes to meet organiser Jen Graham and find out what’s in store. This podcast is all about bringing some of the flavour of the festival and the walks on offer and so I go on a wellbeing ramble with the friendly Greenway walkers. We hear from the highly popular Bristol Steppin Sistas about their walking group. The Guide Dogs for the Blind are putting on a walk this year and so I get to meet a couple of the guide dogs in training down at the centre in Bedminster - and of course Volunteer Coordinator Pat Janecka! Bristol Walk Fest runs from 1st - 31st May 2022. Bristol Walk Fest is coordinated by Active Ageing Bristol, hosted by Age UK Bristol with funding from Bristol City Council and Bristol Ramblers. For more information about the festival visit www.bristolwalkfest.com [https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/] Credits Hosted and Produced by: Pommy Harmar pommyharmar@yahoo.co.uk Music: Joshua Empyre [https://www.empyreanma.com/welcome] Links Greenway Walkers www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/content/greenway-walkers [www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/content/greenway-walkers] Bristol Steppin Sistas www.facebook.com/groups/223891986148385 [www.facebook.com/groups/223891986148385] Guide Dogs for the Blind Association www.guidedogs.org.uk [www.guidedogs.org.uk] www.facebook.com/GuideDogsSouthWest [https://www.facebook.com/GuideDogsSouthWest]

Rambling around Bristol

So what do we know about the Ramblers? In this episode Vice President Kate Ashbrook gives us the history. We hear from local Bristol Ramblers Sam Perry and Ian Bickerton who tell us why they love walking with the Bristol Ramblers. Our expert Nigel Andrews informs us about the right gear to use - especially footwear, waterproofs and poles. Double act Keith Budd and Carew Reynell whet our appetite about what the Ramblers have in store during Walk Fest. Plus we find out exactly what their favourite snacks are...! Bristol Walk Fest runs from 1st - 31st May 2022. Bristol Walk Fest is coordinated by Active Ageing Bristol, hosted by Age UK Bristol with funding from Bristol City Council and Bristol Ramblers. For more information about the festival visit www.bristolwalkfest.com [https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/] Credits Hosted and Produced by: Pommy Harmar pommyharmar@yahoo.co.uk Music: Joshua Empyre [https://www.empyreanma.com/welcome] Links Ramblers - www.ramblers.org.uk Bristol Ramblers - www.bristolramblers.org.uk www.facebook.com/groups/bristolramblersgroup

Nuts and Bolts of Bristol Walk Fest

Welcome to the first episode of Bristol Walk Fest's brand new podcast. Bristol Walk Fest is the UK's largest urban walking festival and has been running since 2013. More than 8000 people took part in walks and events run by nearly 75 different organisations in 2019. This podcast is designed to whet your appetite to join in this year's fun. Coming up in the show I’ll be joined by Helen Abbott and Susan Marshall who will tell us all about the sport of walking tennis, which was started here in Bristol by Helen Abbott herself! I’ll be getting a lesson in Nordic walking from the Queen of Nordic Walking Vicky Welsh. And we’ll be hearing from Joanne O'Neill about how walking helps with young onset dementia Bristol Walk Fest runs from 1st - 31st May 2022. Bristol Walk Fest is coordinated by Active Ageing Bristol, hosted by Age UK Bristol with funding from Bristol City Council and Bristol Ramblers. For more information about the festival visit www.bristolwalkfest.com [https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/] Credits Hosted and Produced by: Pommy Harmar pommyharmar@yahoo.co.uk Music: Joshua Empyre [https://www.empyreanma.com/welcome] Links Walking Tennis Avontennis.org.uk [http://avontennis.org.uk/] TalkingTennis.co.Uk [http://talkingtennis.co.uk/] www.lta.org.uk/play/ways-to-play/walking-tennis/ [https://www.lta.org.uk/play/ways-to-play/walking-tennis/] Nordic Walking Nordic Walking Wellness Programme www.letswalkbristol.org [http://www.letswalkbristol.org/] Mob: 07783 083542 Young Onset Dementia www.facebook.com/groups/thedenimgeneration https://www.bdaa.org.uk/ Email: joanne_o'neill@hotmail.com for further information