Wolverhampton Walking Festival 2013 Brought to you by

6th April to 14th April 2013 Welcome to the 2013 Walking Festival - over 25 free walks for all ages and abilities For more information please contact The Wolverhampton Healthy Lifestyle Service on tel: 01902 444246 or freephone: 0800 073 4242 Mi 563212 23.01.13 V0.2 Wolverhampton Walking Festival 2013

• Explore Wolverhampton & surrounding areas • Have a go at Orienteering around an Easter Treasure Trail • Learn more about Lord Fowler on a City Heritage Trail • Enjoy a Slideshow by Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club • Join in the Walking for Health Challenge Trail • Learn about farming & conservation • Try Nordic walking • Take a health walk • Walk with Wolfie

The Wolverhampton Walking Festival offers a fantastic range of walks to suit all abilities from a 1 mile health walk to a longer countryside ramble or even a 10 mile challenge trail. There really is something for everyone!

All the walks during the festival are free to join and are a great way to explore Wolverhampton’s open spaces and surrounding countryside.

Please remember • All the walks are FREE to join • All those taking part do so at their own risk • To wear sturdy shoes or boots, waterproofs and warm clothing • To follow any safety instructions given by the walk leaders • Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult • Bring along some food & drink for the longer walks • No dogs allowed (guide/assistance dogs excepted) • Arrive early, allowing time to park

Description of walks • Easy – Under 2 miles on generally flat terrain and good paths • Moderate – Between 2 to 4 miles on undulating and uneven paths and may have stiles • Difficult – Over 4 miles on uneven and sometimes hilly terrain often with numerous stiles

The Walking Festival has only been possible to hold thanks to the support of the City Park & Countryside Rangers and volunteers from Wolverhampton Ramblers and Walking for Health in Wolverhampton.

Public Transport For travel information call Network on 0871 200 2233 or www.networkwestmidlands.com

Festival Website: www.royalwolverhamptonhospitals.nhs.uk Contact details

Walking for Health in Wolverhampton part of Healthy Lifestyles Service Tel: 01902 444246 Freephone: 0800 073 4242 E-mail: [email protected]

Wolverhampton Parks Dept Web: www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/parkevents Tel: 01902 552351

Wildside Activity Centre Tel: 01902 572240 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.wildsideac.co.uk

Nordic Walking Tel: 01902 884160 Mob: 07826122887 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.beaconoutdoorfitness.co.uk

Wolverhampton Ramblers Email: [email protected] Web: http://wton-ra.atspace.com

Wolf Mountain Web: www.wolfmountain.co.uk

Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club Web: www.wolverhamptonmountaineeringclub.co.uk

Wolves Community Trust Tel: 0871 222 2220 (option 6) Web: www.wolvescommunitytrust.org.uk

Wolverhampton Art Gallery Tel: 01902 552055 Web: www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk Saturday 6th April Bushbury 2 miles - Moderate - 10am start Meet – St Mary’s Church Hall, Bushbury Lane, opp Collingwood Rd, Bushbury, WV10 8JP Follow in the footsteps of King Charles 1 with a steady walk up Bushbury Hill with its fantastic views. Free refreshments after the walk. No booking necessary.

Saturday 6th April Around Perton 6 miles - Difficult - 10am start Meet – Car park between the Civic & Lakeside Medical Centre’s in Perton, WV6 7PD. This walk will use quiet lanes, bridlepaths and field paths and part of the Monarchs Way. No stiles. Pub at end of walk if required or coffee shop. For more info call Theresa on 01902 847041.

Saturday 6th April Bantock Tree Trail 2 hour walk & talk - Easy - 1pm start Meet – Bantock House car park, Bantock Park, off Finchfield Road WV3 9LQ Come and discover some of the different tree species at Bantock Park. Find out about which tree is the oldest living species, as well as information about many native species. Suitable for all-terrain buggies. Why not enjoy Bantock Café after your walk. To book a place or for more information, please call 01902 550773

Sunday 7th April West Park Health Walk 1 mile - Easy - 10.30am start Meet - West Park Tea Rooms, Connaught Rd entrance, Wolverhampton, WV1 4PW Enjoy a brisk Sunday morning health walk around the beautiful West Park. No booking necessary. Sunday 7th April Little Saredon/Shareshill 8 miles - Difficult - 10am start Meet – Memorial Hall Car Park, Brewood Road, Coven, WV9 5DL (£1 donation for car parking) Exploring open countryside north of Wolverhampton. For more info call Viv on 01902 790616.

Sunday 7th April Northycote Farm - Farming and Conservation 2 hour walk & talk - Moderate 11am start Meet – Northycote Farm Café, Underhill Lane, Bushbury, WV10 7JF Join us on a walk to discover how the farm is run to encourage conservation. Explore the benefits of hedgerows, and how sheep and cattle can help manage hay meadows and grassland. Suitable for all-terrain buggies. Café and toilets available. To book a place or for more information, please call 01902 397906.

Monday 8th April Easter Orienteering Trail Wildside Activity Centre Up to 2 hours - Easy - Start anytime between 11am & 11.30am Meet – Wildside Activity Centre, Hordern Road, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, WV6 0HA A family orienteering treasure trail around Smestow Valley nature reserve with things to find and questions to answer on the way round. Fantastic fun for children & adults alike & free! May not be suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs due to weather conditions - please check when booking. To book a place or for more information please call 01902 572240. Monday 8th April Walk with Wolfie & mini stadium tour 2 Hours - Easy - Three sessions available, starting at 9.30am, 10.30am or 11.30am (booking necessary). Meet – Reception, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR Starting from the Molineux a health walk with Wolfie around West Park followed by a mini stadium tour of the Molineux Football Stadium. Free health advice from Wolves Community Trust and the Healthy Lifestyles Service also available. Pre booking necessary – please call 0800 073 4242 or 01902 444246 to book your place. Priority given on the 11.30am start time for walkers with disabilities.

Monday 8th April Fowler Heritage Trail Up to 2 hours - Easy - 2pm Meet – Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU A fascinating heritage trail around Wolverhampton City Centre discovering places connected to the story of Sir Henry Hartley Fowler MP, GCSI, First Lord Wolverhampton and his family, including two literary daughters, Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler and Edith Henrietta Fowler. Walk lead by local history expert. To book a place or for more information please call 01902 552055

Tuesday 9th April Ramble on the Reserve Smestow 4 miles - Moderate - 12.30pm start Meet – old station platform, Meadow View off Henwood Road, WV6 8NX Join the Countryside Rangers for a ramble around Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve, covering as much of the site as possible. Keep your eyes open for wildlife around the site. Tuesday 9th April Easter Word Search Trail at Bantock Park 1 mile - Easy - 10am – 12noon (drop in) Meet – Tea Rooms, Bantock Park, off Finchfield Road, WV3 9LQ A free Easter Word Search trail for children and adults alike. Hunt the eggs around the park and solve the Easter Word Search – great fun & free daffodils for all entries. Easter Fun. No booking necessary.

Tuesday 9th April Bilston Health Walk 2 miles - Easy - 2.30pm start Meet – Bert Williams Leisure Centre café, Nettlefolds Way, Bilston, WV14 0EF Discover the hidden countryside in Bilston on a short health walk. No booking necessary.

Tuesday 9th April Evening Slide Show “British Hill Walking” 8.15pm for a 8.30pm start Venue – Wolf Mountain (rear of Wolverhampton College), Paget Road, Compton, W-ton, WV6 0DU An entertaining and informative free slideshow on ‘British Hill Walking’ by Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club. Refreshments available to purchase and raffle in aid of Mountain Rescue.

Wednesday 10th April Nordic walking at West Park 1 mile - Moderate - 10am & 11am starts (one hour sessions - booking necessary) Meet – West Park Tea Rooms, Connaught Rd entrance, Wolverhampton, WV1 4PW Nordic walking works your upper and lower body. Nordic Walking exercises 90% of your body’s muscles and burns 45% more calories than ordinary walking. Please call 0800 073 4242 or 01902 444246 to book your free one hour Nordic Walking Session around West Park. Wednesday 10th April Wildlife Walk Mill 3 Hours - Moderate - 11am start Meet - Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve car park, Pendeford Hall Lane, WV9 5ET Join the ranger for a walk and talk, looking at the plants and wildlife of this valuable & environmentally sensitive nature reserve. The site covers over 59 acres of naturally managed countryside and dates back to the 13th century, providing a stable and protected habitat for wildlife on the fringe of Wolverhampton. Suitable for all-terrain buggies. To book a place or for more information, please call 01902 397640 or 07771836680.

Wednesday 10th April Fordhouses Health Walk 2 miles - Easy - 2pm start Meet – Moreton Arms Pub Garden, Springfield Lane, Fordhouses, WV10 6PX Enjoy a health walk around Fordhouses. No booking necessary.

Wednesday 10th April Victorian Wolverhampton Heritage Trail Up to 2 hours - Easy - 2pm start Meet – Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU A gentle walk through Wolverhampton town centre looking at some of the buildings our grandparents and great grandparents might have seen, with brief talks highlighting their significance in the history of Wolverhampton. To book a place or for more information please call 01902 552055. Thursday 11th April Smestow Birds of 2 Hours - Moderate - 9am start Meet - Tettenhall old railway station platform, Meadow View Terrace off Henwood Road, WV6 8NX Join the Countryside Rangers and a member of Smestow Valley Bird Group for an early walk to discover the birds that live in and around the reserve. Suitable for all-terrain buggies. To book a place or for more information, please call 01902 552351.

Thursday 11th April Northycote Farm walk 4 miles - Moderate - 10.30am start Meet –Northycote Farm Café, Underhill Lane, Bushbury, WV10 7JF A health walk at a steady pace around Northycote & Essington – lots of varied scenery. No booking necessary.

Thursday 11th April Evening Walk Smestow valley and canal walk 4 miles - Difficult - 6pm start Meet – Aldersley Leisure Village, Aldersley Road, WV6 9NW Discover the diverse natural environmental areas that are within our city boundaries. Ramble down the old railway track. Spot a heron or delight in the ducklings along the canal. Appreciate the changes of spring wandering through woodland and meadows. No booking necessary.

Friday 12th April Tettenhall Pool Explorer walk 5 miles - Difficult - 11.45am start Meet – Tettenhall Pool car park, Stockwell Rd, off Wergs Road (A41), Tettenhall Upper Green, Wolverhampton, WV6 9AX A joint walk with Dudley Walk Fit exploring paths, open spaces & canals around Perton, Compton & Tettenhall. Pub lunch stop. No booking necessary. Friday 12th April East Park History Walk 2 Hours - Easy - 1pm start Meet - East Park Changing Rooms (near play area), East Park, Off Stow Heath Lane, WV1 2BS Join the rangers for a stroll around East Park. Discover more about the park’s features, including the clock tower, old boating lake and bandstand. All children must be accompanied by an adult. To book a place or for more information, please call 01902 550773.

Saturday 13th April Walking for Health Challenge Trail 2.5 / 7 / 10 mile options Moderate - Difficult - 9am start Meet: Aldersley Leisure Village, Aldersley Road, WV6 9NW Challenge yourself on a 2.5 mile bronze, 7 mile silver or 10 mile gold walk in aid of the British Heart Foundation. Three way marked and marshaled walks to suit all abilities. Entries limited to 300 - for an entry form please call 0800 073 4242 or 01902 444246 or download an entry form from: www.royalwolverhamptonhospitals.nhs.uk (sorry no entries allowed ‘on the day’).

Saturday 13th April Kinver to the Crown 11 miles - Difficult - 10am start Meet – The Acre public car park, behind Kinver Constitutional Club & PO. Next to the White Hart Pub, DY7 6HL. Some gentle hills, mainly field paths & bridleways. Very short section on main A451 to Crown pub at Iverley for lunch stop. Canal walking at end of walk back into Kinver. Very few stiles. For more info call Theresa on 01902 847041. Sunday 14th April Wolverhampton N and S, figure of eight 5 or 10 miles - Difficult - 10am & 1pm starts Meet -Broad Street Canal Bridge/Basin, Broad Street, Wolverhampton City Centre (across the ring road from the Chubb Buildings). Nearest car park is in Broad Street. Starting at 10am from Broad Street basin the first loop of 5 miles goes ‘due North’ on canal towpaths to Aldersley Stadium, back through woodland and alleyways. Refreshment stop at The Lich Gates. The second 5 mile leg of this figure of eight walk starts at 1pm from Broad Street basin and heads ‘down South’ on paths and through parks out to Penn Common. Refreshment stop at The Queens. For more info call Stuart 07935 840845.

Sunday 14th April West Park History / Nature Walk 2 Hours - Easy - 1pm start Meet - West Park Tea Rooms, Connaught Rd entrance, WV1 4PW Join the rangers to discover the history of Wolverhampton’s premiere Victorian park. Learn more about the park’s most well known features, including the bandstand, clock and conservatory – so much to find out and explore. To book a place or for more information, please call 01902 550773.

Do you want to...... Be more active? Lose weight? Eat healthier? Stop smoking? Feel fitter? Drink less alcohol?

The Wolverhampton Healthy Lifestyles Service can help.

For free advice and support please call: Tel: 01902 444246 Freephone: 0800 073 4242

Get fit Mem bership Pack ages available. Discounts available for persons under 18 years of age & 60 & over No joinin g fee, 2 ways to pay, 3 venues. Terms and conditions apply. 01902 552140 www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/fit