Dr Tom Heath, one of the GP partners at The Lodge Surgery, has recently created a Health walk for Chippenham residents.
The local Doctor has been working in conjunction with NHS Forest with the project aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and communities by increasing access to green space on or near NHS land.
Spending time in nature can reduce anxiety and improve your mood. Physical activity, including walking, can reduce your risk of diabetes by 35-50%, depression and dementia by 20-30% and cardiovascular diseases by 20-35%. It can also reduce your risk of conditions such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Exercising outdoors has been shown to be more beneficial than indoor activities.
The Health Walk map helps you locate local green spaces and suggests walking routes from Lodge Surgery at Lodge Road to parks, meadows and woodlands. Dr Heath received grants from Tesco Bags of Help scheme and Chippenham Town Council to fund the project.
You may have already spotted the signs on lamp posts marking the walk but you can download a route map with further information from The Lodge Surgery website here or ask Reception for a copy if you are unable to print it. The surgery team would love you to let them know if you do the walk!
For more information about the project visit NHS Forest/Green Spaces.
