Belair National Park Open Day + New Find a Place to Walk Entry + Update from Wendy Keech, WalkingSA Chair

Wendy Keech, chair Walking SALate last month Walking SA held a Club Presidents Forum for club representatives. The event was a huge success, providing an opportunity for the Board to engage with representatives of Clubs in an open discussion regarding Walking SA.  We received some very helpful and valuable input on the night which we will include in our forward planning.  View a snapshot of the forum.

Walking SA will be involved in the Belair National Park Open Day on Sunday 3 May.  The event starts and 10am and concludes at 5pm.  Come along and visit our stand if you are in the area – we will have trail maps available and Board Members on hand to answer any questions you may have about Walking SA.

Finally, the Heart Foundation is celebrating 20 years of Heart Foundation Walking with two walks that you are invited to attend.  The first walk will be held on 2 May and again on 8 May.  Please support the Heart Foundation and join one of the walks to celebrate their achievements with walking promotion.

This month we feature:

We hope that you enjoy this latest edition of news from Walking SA.

Wendy Keech
Chair, Walking SA

Walking at Least Two Hours a Week Can Cut Your Chances of Dying Early

Research from Harvard Medical School shows that walking at least two hours a week can cut your chances of dying early from cardiovascular disease by up to 53%.

The special health report Managing Your Cholesterol provides advice to patients on the risk-driven American Heart Association guidelines (2013), the impact of lifestyle changes and calculating heart attack risk.

It also found:

  • evidence that statins reduce cardiovascular risk is “very strong”
  • only 20% to 25% of the cholesterol in the bloodstream comes from cholesterol in food (the body makes the rest)

New Walking Trails at Hiltaba Nature Reserve

Hiltaba Walking Trails 3

Two new trails were officially opened on Friday 10th April 2015 in the Hiltaba Nature Reserve.

  • Betty and Bob Lewis Loop Walk (1.8km loop walk, 1 hour)
  • Warren Bonython Loop Walk (10km loop walk, 5 hours)

The station is a Nature Foundation property in the Gawler Ranges, 650km from Adelaide.

View photos and maps of the two walks in our Find a Place to Walk directory.

Feedback Sought on Future Direction of Adelaide’s National Parks

The Government of South Australia is seeking community input on the future direction of national parks near Adelaide.

The Government of South Australia is seeking community input on the future direction of national parks near Adelaide.

  • Would having toilets in a park make it easier for you and your family to visit?
  • Would you like to see more mountain bike trails, walking tracks or horse riding trails?
  • Would you love to take the family camping somewhere closer to home?
  • Do you want barbecues, picnic areas and shelters?
  • Do you need more information online or signs in the parks themselves?
  • Would wheelchair accessible trails make your family’s weekend?
  • Or do you have a brilliant idea that would cost nothing at all?

Free Program of Discovery Walks & Walking SA at Belair National Park Discovery Day

Belair Open Day, Sunday May 3rd 2015During late April through to the end of May a number of national parks are having free Discovery Days. Find out about all the activities for each park and more detail on the NRM website.

Onkaparinga National Park and Recreation Park

Tuesday, 21 April, 10am-3pm

  • guided walks with the Friends of Onkaparinga Parks volunteers
  • wetlands walks

Belair National Park

Sunday, 3 May, 10am-4pm

  • WalkingSA information stand, come and say hi!
  • guided walks with Friends of Belair National Park
  • dogs welcome on leads

Para Wirra Recreation Park

Sunday, 24 May, 10am-3pm

Free overnight camping

  • night walk with a ranger
  • morning bird walk
  • guided nature walks
  • guided history walks
  • dogs welcome on leads

Cobbler Creek Recreation Park 25th birthday celebration

Sunday, 31 May, 10am-3pm

  • guided nature walks with the Friends of Cobbler Creek volunteers
  • dogs are welcome on leads

Heart Foundation Walking Celebrating May 2015 Heart Week with Walks

Heart Foundation Walking Celebrating May 2015 Heart Week with WalksHeart Foundation Walking are running walking events across Australia to celebrate Heart Week (3rd May – 9th May 2015) and to get people talking about physical inactivity.

Sat 2 May 2015 9:00am
Adelaide Botanic Park
walking.heartfoundation.org.au/events/event/heart-week-20th-anniversary-celebration-may-2nd-sa/

Fri 8 May 2015 12:45pm
30min Lunchtime Walk around the Adelaide Festival Centre precinct
walking.heartfoundation.org.au/events/event/heart-week-walk-adelaide-city-may-8th-sa/