Go green and take part in the Great British Walking Challenge

Damien Clarkson encourages us to take part in the Great British Walking Challenge which starts today.

The Great British Walking Challenge takes place this May as part of Living Streets’ National Walking Month. We’re urging people across the country to take to their feet and see how many times we can collectively walk between Land’s End and John O’Groats.

We know walking offers not only a great way to keep fit but importantly a way to help reduce our own personal carbon footprint. Research from last years challenge revealed we could reduce our personal carbon footprint by 86 kg a year; simply by swapping 5 short car journeys under 2 km into walks.

Living in London with its abundance of transport options it can be easy to overlook walking. But by taking simple steps like getting off the bus a stop early or going for a lunchtime stroll you can improve both your mental and physical health and do your bit for the environment.

The build up to the London mayoral election has seen London’s air quality become a key political issue. With the Green Party, Campaign for Cleaner Air London and activist group Climate Rush all campaigning for an improvement to air quality in the capital. We believe one way to improve air quality is by encouraging Londoners to embed walking into their everyday lifestyle. And the Great British Walking Challenge offers a great opportunity for Londoners to help improve air quality in London.

The month will be packed with lots of different activities including Walk to Work Week happening between 14-18 May. And once the challenge begins, our special online tool will log every walk taken (it can add up minutes spent walking, miles covered or steps taken – and even calculate the CO2 saved).

Sign up for the challenge today and feel fitter and greener this May. http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/gbwc