ENJOY A NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHIER LIFE
 
Forest chiefs are urging people to take a step towards a more active life this summer.
 
The Forestry Commission - Britain’s biggest provider of outdoor recreation - has launched a health drive called Active Woods, aiming to get folk of all ages into sylvan beauty-spots to combat stress and keep in trim.  
 
According to research by Essex University, taking part in countryside activities like walking and mountain biking, yields major health dividends.  Anger, confusion, depression, fatigue and tension decrease, while levels of vigour rise, the study states.*
 
So with the sun shining, there are plenty of good reasons to get out and about. But first check out the Active Woods website at www.forestry.gov.uk/Active,  or phone FORESTS 0845 3673787, to see what’s going on in your neck of the woods. 
 
 Highlights for August include:
 
Activity Days – Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Every Tuesday in August
Beat the summer blues by joining rangers to find out more about bugs, butterflies,  forest art and survival skills. Suitable for children up to 10 years old. Must be accompanied.  Time 11am to 12.15pm / 2pm to 3.15pm. Cost £2 in advance, £2.50 on the day.  Meet Beechenhurst Lodge, off the B4226 Coleford to Cinderford road. Tel: 01594 833057
 
Creepy Crawly Crazy  - Alice Holt Woodland Park, Surrey
Tuesday 2 August
Ensure your off-spring don’t get the heeby jeebies at the sight of a spider and let them loose on a ranger-led mini-beast hunt. Suitable for children aged between 4 and 7 years old. Time 10.15am to 11.45am Cost £3.50. Booking required on 01420 520212 . Meet at the forest classroom, near Farnham. 
 
Ramble with a Ranger – New Forest, Hampshire
Wednesday 3 August
Get your heart pumping with a three mile walk to learn more about the forest and its amazing wildlife.  Time 10am to 12 noon. Cost £2. Booking required on 0238 028 3141.  Meet at Ober Corner car park, near Brockenhurst.
 
Dinosaur Trail – Wyre Forest, Worcestershire
Friday 12 August
Follow the Dinosaur trail and find out more about monsters from the past.  Family event, children must be accompanied. Time 1pm to 3.30pm.  Cost £1.00. Meet Wyre Forest Discovery Centre, off the A456 Kidderminster to Leominster road. Tel: 01889 586593
 
Roseberry Topping Trek – Guisborough Forest, Cleveland
Sunday 14 August
Guided walk to the summit of a hill dubbed the “Cleveland Matterhorn'.  Vikings also paid their respects to Odin nearby. Not suitable for buggies. Free. Time 10am.  Meet at Guisborough Forest & Walkway Centre, Pinchinthorpe, Guisborough. Tel: 01287 631132
 
Wildlife Detectives - Whinlatter Forest Park, Cumbria
Wednesday 17 August
Youngsters are invited to pull on their walking boots and go on safari to learn about wildlife and tracking. Time 10am - 12noon.  Free, but booking required on  017687 78469.  Meet at Noble Knott Car Park, near Braithwaite Village.
 
Forest Adventure – Kielder Forest, Northumberland
Monday 22 August
A day den building, finding out about wildlife and getting tips on survival skills. Suitable for children aged 8 to 12 years-old. Time 10am to 3.30pm. Cost £5. Meet at Kielder Castle, off the C200, 17 miles north west of Bellingham. Tel: 01434 220242.
 
Survival Skills – Hamsterley Forest, County Durham
Wednesday 24 August
Ray Mears had to start somewhere!  This 5,000 acre beauty spot is the perfect place for youngsters to learn how to build a rustic shelter. Children under eight must be accompanied.  Time 1pm.  Cost £1.50. Booking required on 01388 488312.  Meet Hamsterley Forest Visitor Centre, signposted off the A68 near West Auckland.
 
Tree Tonic Trail - National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
All summer
Visitors are being challenged to lose a total of one million calories this summer by walking a new Tree Tonic Trail, specially mapped so they know how many calories they’ve burnt. The lure is the fabulous landscape, with 18,000 tree and shrub specimens. 10am to 8pm. Entry is £5 adults, £4 concessions and £1 children. Family ticket £10. Tel: 01666 880220
 
NOTE TO EDITOR
*Research conducted by Essex University (commissioned by the Countryside Recreation Network) highlighting the benefits of woodland exercise. The Essex report also estimated the national cost of physical inactivity at over £8 billion annually in terms of sick leave, mortality and direct costs to the NHS.
 
The Government's White Paper "Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices Easier" reveals that over a third of people are not active enough, while rates of walking and cycling have fallen since 1980.
 
Active Woods aims to tap the potential of woods to contribute to the Government's health targets, offering opportunities on the themes of naturally active, stimulating and relaxing. Over 250 million visits are made to UK woodlands each year.
Media calls to Richard Darn on 01226 246351, mobile 0775 367 0038.