- Ministerial Address by Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport, Welsh Government
- Creating Synergy for a healthy planet by Malcom Ward
- Obesity: The Disease of the Sedentary – Prevention and Intervention by Dr Nadim Hauboubi
- From Sydney to Scotland: connecting to the Healthy Parks Healthy People approach by Bridget Finton
- Natural Solutions to Tackling Health Inequalities by Jessica Allen
- Walking and Health by Melanie Jones
- Health and Wellbeing in the Woodlands – practice and research by Kate Hamilton, Coed Lleol Research & Training Officer
- Living with the impact of cancer – Physical Activity the Wonder Drug by Sarah Worbey. Physical Activity Integration Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support
- Natural Resources Wales’ Come Outside! Programme by Jonathon Lee, Venture Out
- Conference Introduction
- Conclusion and the way ahead by Hannah Buck, Health, Well-being, Recreation and Tourism Policy Officer, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority
- Summary from Boulevards
Journal Forward
In 2005 the Countryside (now Outdoor) Recreation Network commissioned joint research by its members from Jules Pretty and his team at Essex University to investigate the contribution that the outdoors makes to people’s health and well-being. We held a one day conference to present the findings hear from a number of case studies. A number of CRN members including the Forestry Commission, Countryside Agency and Environment Agency signed a concordat to develop and build on the work they were beginning to undertake in providing for outdoor health activities.
10 years on we felt it an appropriate moment to reflect on what has happened in this field since 2005 and more importantly to bring this community of interests together to share current experiences and consider the opportunities ahead.
Planning and running a conference of this nature through our type of network is always an interesting one. We rely a lot on the goodwill and commitment of our members and subscribers, ably supported by our secretariat services, to make these type of events happen.
So I was most grateful when Hannah Buck from the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority ‘volunteered’ in the first instance to edit these proceedings but then to take on the larger and more demanding task of planning and running the event itself. Hannah’s role in the Park Authority, as Health and Tourism Officer, meant she was well placed to approach her contacts and put a call out for key note speakers and workshop presenters. We were rather overwhelmed by the response and the idea of the boulevard emerged as a way of not wanting to turn down any offer. As a result I think we ended up with a richer conference as it provided some great networking and exchanges.
The importance of creating space and an appropriate environment for effective networking cannot be over emphasised. Everyone appreciates it and say how much they value it. So starting a conference like this being active outdoors on a fine day was a real added bonus. The visit to Tredegar, hosted so well by the National Trust, got us off to a great start.
My thanks to all who gave key note presentations, led workshops, manned stalls and got us, amongst other things, whittling and walking at Tredegar.
Special thanks to Hannah for putting the conference together and editing these proceedings and to Kathryn Callaghan from Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland whose last ORN event this was as the secretariat of the Network. Her work for the Network over the last three years has been terrific and well received.
Jo Burgon
Chair, Outdoor Recreation Network