Chesterfield health and wellbeing

Chesterfield’s popular Walking Festival to return in May 2023

Residents and visitors being encouraged to get outdoors and enjoy what our town and wider area has to offer, as the popular Chesterfield Area Walking Festival returns for another year.

The annual festival takes place from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 May 2023 and it includes gentle strolls, family walks and big days out for seasoned hikers. Tickets for the festival will be available to book from Monday 13 February.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Chesterfield Area Walking Festival is a great event that encourages you to explore the beautiful countryside locations around Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire. It will help you discover some hidden gems that you may not be aware of and the programme has been designed to ensure that there are walks suitable for all abilities.

“The festival is always really popular and regularly sells out. If any of the events interest you, then book your ticket as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

There are lots of different types of walks planned, there are walks for the family to enjoy like the Bumblebee Safari where you can find out more about these important pollinators, a Buggy Walk for parents of young children around Queen’s Park, a family friendly Wildlife Hunt and the popular Boat and Boots which includes a trip along the Chesterfield Canal.

Walks focussed on history include an exploration of Creswell Crags and Holbeck, a tour focused on the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal, a guided walk discovering the history of the Avenue Country Park, and a tour of the Chesterfield Museum stores, featuring items from the collection some of which have not been on display before.

For the more experienced hiker the festival includes a few strenuous walks like the popular 34-mile Chesterfield Round, a tour of Harewood and Longside Moors and a hike around the Big Moor Stone Circles.

Booking is essential but most walks included in the festival are free to attend, with a small fee for the rest.

Find out more about the festival by visiting: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-walking-festival

Chesterfield Area Walking Festival

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Community group celebrates 10 years of walking at Holmebrook Valley Park

Chesterfield’s Holmebrook Valley Park is celebrating 10 years of hosting a walking group this month.

On 12 January, the volunteer group leaders and other local walkers were joined by Mayor of Chesterfield Councillor Tony Rogers to explore what the park has to offer.

The Holmebrook Valley Park ‘walk with us’ walking group originally launched in 2013, but it was temporarily put on hold in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, then launched again as soon as outdoor meeting restrictions allowed.

Over the years, the group has welcomed many residents and other local people who enjoy walking. A number of the group’s regular members have completed accredited training enabling them to take it in turns to lead the group each week.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt said: “We have a wonderful team of volunteers at Holmebrook Valley Park who share the role of walk leader each week and help each other to keep the group growing and thriving.

“They meet around 10.15am each week by the café at the pavilion in the top cark park off Watermeadow Lane, ready to set off at 10.30am. They generally walk for around an hour before returning to the café for drinks and chat. Anyone is welcome to join in, no special equipment is needed, just sensible shoes and clothing suitable for the weather.

“There are slopes in the park and some rough surfaces under foot but the leaders will explain the route each week so walkers can decide if it is suitable for their own ability. Everyone is welcome, so if you fancy getting outdoors and exploring somewhere new feel free to join the group.”

Park facilities

The park is open to pedestrians all year round and has won the prestigious Green Flag award for the last twelve years.

The northern end of the park is elevated and offers spectacular views over Chesterfield to Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle and on towards Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

There is something for everyone to enjoy at the park including children’s play areas, a free outdoor gym, football pitches, cycling, orienteering route, an art sculpture trail, picnic tables and a café.

Join the group

The Holmebrook Valley Park walking group meet every Thursday at 10.30am for a

45–60 minute walk in Chesterfield’s largest park that includes open water, woodlands and hay meadows. Please note the park has hills and some uneven paths.

If you would like to join in, meet by the cafe in park pavilion (top car park) at Holmebrook Valley Park, Watermeadow Lane, Chesterfield, S41 8XP.

You can find out about other park-based walks on the Chesterfield Borough Council website or learn about other group walks in our area and beyond on the Walk Derbyshire website: https://walkderbyshire.org.uk/

For more information, please contact Tina Hensey, Chesterfield Borough Council Community Lifestyles Officer, tina.hensey@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Holmebrook-Valley-Walking-Group

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Businesses and organisations can now sign up for Chesterfield 10k’s Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge

Organisers of the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10km have launched this year’s Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge and are calling for local businesses and community organisations to get involved.

Local businesses are being offered the opportunity to gain 10 percent discount on Chesterfield 10k entry fees, as well as recognition from the 10k stakeholders as an organisation that promotes and supports a healthy lifestyle and mental health wellbeing.

This year the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K is taking place on Sunday 16th October, starting from Queen’s Park, at 10am. Registrants for the Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge must be over 15 years of age.

David Beckford, Managing Director of Pronto Paints, said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Wellbeing Challenge once again, after many years of involvement. It’s a great incentive for staff of local businesses like ours to create a running goal and stick to a training plan, while encouraging team members to get stuck into some healthy competition.”

Dom Stevens, Manager of Destination Chesterfield said: “We’re excited to see the Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge opened up to local businesses and community groups once again, it’s a great way for people in the area to show their support for mental health and a healthy lifestyle, and of course raise money for important local charities. As a previous runner at the event, I can certainly recommend it.”

Charity Partners for the event are Redbrik Foundation, Ashgate Hospice and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

To sign up for the challenge and receive your team discount code please email; info@chesterfield10k.com

Redbrik supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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