Kirsty Meynell and Scott Hillman take a look at outdoor activities in Sevenoaks this September The weather is no excuse, although it is very commonly referred to as one of the reasons for not being more active in the UK and the summer of 2007 has left an awful lot of us stir crazy as indoor activities have ruled the roost. If you have children, you have probably spent the summer months racking your brains for indoor activities to keep everyone entertained or spent an inordinate amount of time clearing up after the muddy and sodden apparitions that appear at your door after a day out in the elements. If you don’t have children, you’ve likely spent the time bemoaning the fact that everywhere you go is full of youngsters on day release from the confines of the home. Add to this the matter of waiting for the weather to improve so you can get started on your fitness regime and you’ve got a recipe for stress, lethargy and ill-health.
The combination of staying active and eating well is well known to be the best way to stay healthy and happy over the less temperate months so now is the time to get started on good habits. Recent research by scientists at Queen’s University Belfast has shown that a mere 30 minute walk three times a week is all that is required to help reduce blood pressure and a person’s risk of heart disease. At an average speed of three miles per hour a person can take 3,000 steps in that 30 minute period and that is almost a third of the recommended 10,000 steps that should be taken to stay fit and healthy. Sound like a lot of steps? Achieving it is not as difficult as you would think. One way of combining the healthy eating with step-building activity is to visit one of the many Farmer’s markets around Kent. The Sevenoaks Farmer’s Market takes place on the second Friday of every month at Bligh’s Meadow from 9am to 1pm. Every minute spent shopping requires a person to take an average of 70 steps. Potter around for 30 minutes or more and you’ve taken over 2,000 steps and if you fancy a stroll up and down Sevenoaks High Street you’ll likely take at least another 1,200 steps and have covered almost a kilometre in distance. Spend half an hour cleaning the house in the afternoon and you’ll have taken another 3,000 steps. Indulge your family by cooking them a delicious dinner of fresh vegetables and another 1,800 steps will be taken over the period of 30 minutes of pottering back and forth. So taking everything into account and not even mentioning the other normal things during the day you’ve clocked up 8,000 steps.
Office jobs are not particularly conducive to a high daily step count but getting out and about at lunchtime and taking the stairs rather than the lift, printing to the furthest away printer rather than the one on the end of your desk as well as walking over to people’s desks rather than using phone, email or instant messaging can almost double your daily step count. Weekend outings with family and friends are also great step-count builders and mood boosters. Two events to look forward to later on in the month are the Riverhead Carnival on Chipstead Common and the Finding Fungi walk at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Both events take place on Sunday 23rd September. The finding fungi walk, starting at 10am, will take participants on a discovery tour of the amazing world of fungi. The walk costs £4 for adults and £2 for children. Don’t forget your magnifying glass! www.walktowalk.com
