New research out this week reveals that Brits are exploring the great outdoors less than ever before - with over a third of the nation (35%) walking a mere 15 minutes or less a day - equating to less than 1,500 steps - 85% less than recommended. To mark TRACKER®'s 30 year partnership with the great outdoors, the original cereal bar, with the help of James Cracknell and the Woodland Trust, is launching a campaign to get Brits to pledge to walk 30,000 miles off the beaten track.
The research highlights that the nation is walking in the great outdoors less than we were 30 years ago; as half of British parents (45%) claim their children walk less than they did as a child. Despite this, interestingly half of the nation believe that going for walks outside with their children could improve their family relationship (48%) and a third believe it could relieve family stress (34%).
Key barriers seemingly include a lack of time, and a worry that the kids will get bored, with the research revealing that if a journey is 26 minutes or more, parents won't be able to keep their children entertained. To help address this, TRACKER® has partnered with James Cracknell and the Woodland Trust to help you get the most out of your walk. A downloadable guide from James Cracknell is available via the TRACKER® website which includes handy tips and tricks - from DIY obstacle courses to making faces out of the mud and tracking animal footprints - there's something for everyone . Trivia and facts from the Woodland Trust are also available on the TRACKER® website, to offer educational but fun information on woodlands for the whole family.
James Cracknell – Double Olympic, six time World Rowing Champion and outside adventurer comments: 'To me, there's no better feeling than exploring the great outdoors - and walking is the best way of doing this. Many people see walking merely as a mode of transport and what they can too often overlook is that it is the start of an adventure. Together with TRACKER® and the Woodland Trust, I want to get the nation off the beaten track and embarking on their own adventures up and down the country'.
Tony Chadwick, Site Manager at the Woodland Trust comments: 'As the UK's leading woodland conservation charity, we are really excited to be joining TRACKER® and James Cracknell in encouraging the nation to get off the beaten track. A great way of doing this is by taking a walk through the many woodland areas in the UK. We own more than 1,000 woods across the UK and all are free to access. Woodlands are so great for many reasons – not only are they beautiful but they are a place for adventure and unwinding, home to the UK's oldest living thing – a yew tree – and a habitat for our much loved wildlife such as dormice and badgers. Help us protect our woodland by joining in with the campaign and pledging to walk.
