Ready?... Let's explore!
Go with your family, and take a friend...
The walk doesn't need to be very long, it could be 'there and back' (so you can easily turnaround when little legs are getting tired), just make sure...
- you take time to notice nature - observe the grass, trees, bushes, and flowers popping through. What birds can you see? Can you see any tracks in the mud?
- you stop where you like just to play!
- if you've taken a photo, send it to us or share on the Outdoor Families Private Facebook Group
- You could keep a nature journal to observe the changes taking place.
- Make sure you take time to play, stop and just breath, feel the air and really listen.
- Remember you don't have to do it all at once - it is just a walk - you can always explore more next time.
Need inspiration? Download one of our maps
We have lots of Family Wild Walk maps in and around Hackney to choose from and we are always discovering new routes to share.
Explore them all or choose the two or three nearest to your front door, and keep repeating them. You won't get bored... we've been walking slowly round one particular local park two or three times a day for 15 years and EVERY single time it is different.
If you'd like a buddy to come with you, then get in touch and we will connect you to one of our regular family volunteers, someone like you who started coming on our wild walks, made friends and started to explore more, and now wants to help more families get outdoors.
To be matched up please email: beth@outdoorpeople.org.uk or ring us on (+44) 07944 279 169
You can use these maps on a device, but its even more fun to get them printed out. If you don't have a printer you can get them printed for 25p - 50p in most post offices, stationary shops or specialist printing shops.
Our Family Wild Walks Maps
We've made maps of all our favourite Wild Walks in Hackney. Now it's time for your children to take you on an adventure in your local neighbourhood!
Abney Park Cemetery Wild Walk
Nearest station: Stoke Newington Overground Station
Nearest bus stop: Stop X Stoke Newington Church St High Street
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour) | PDF (black & white)
Follow it on the OS Maps app: Link
Newington Green Wild Walk
Nearest station: Canonbury Overground Station (8 minute walk to start point)
Nearest bus stop: Stop NK Newington Green.
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour) | PDF (black & white)
Follow the route on the Go Jauntly app.
Follow it on the OS Maps app: Link
Woodberry Down & West Reservoir
Nearest station: Manor Park Tube Station.
Nearest bus stop: Bus Stop V, Woodberry Grove on Seven Sister's Road.
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour)
This is longer route on the OSMaps App: Link
Follow the a slightly different route in the same area on the Go Jauntly app.
Parklands Wild Walk
Nearest station: Manor Park Underground or Finsbury Park Station
Nearest bus stop: Seven Sisters Road, Alexandra Grove Stop Q (stop ID: 76171)
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour) | PDF (black & white)
Walthamstow Marshes & Springfield Park Wild Walk
Nearest station: Stamford Hill Overground Station (12 minute walk)
Nearest bus stop: Clapton Common Stop CT (Stop ID: 49927)
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour) | PDF (black & white)
Walthamstow Wetlands Wild Walk
Nearest station: Tottenham Hale Underground Station (10 minute walk to start point).
Nearest bus stop: Walthamstow Wetlands Ferry Boat Inn (stop ID: 72382).
Follow the route on the Go Jauntly app.
Haggerston & Hoxton Wild Walk
Nearest station: Haggerston Overground Station
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour)
Hackney Marsh & Kingsmead Wild Walk
Nearest station: Homerton Overground Station (15 minute walk to start point)
Nearest bus stop: Bus Stop B Kingsmead Estate (where Kingsmead Way meets Homerton Road)
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour)
Hackney Marshes Woodland Wild Walk
Nearest station: Homerton Overground Station (15 minute walk to start point)
Nearest bus stop: Bus Stop B Kingsmead Estate (where Kingsmead Way meets Homerton Road)
Follow the route on the Go Jauntly app.
Victoria Park & Mile End Wild Walk
Nearest station: Cambridge Heath Overground Station (10 minute walk to start point)
Nearest bus stop: Stop HA Bonner Road or Stop SN Skipworth Road
Download your printable Wild Walk map here: PDF (colour) | PDF (black & white)
Follow the route on the Go Jauntly app.
Why its so important for families to go outdoors...
Going outdoors has a critical, positive impact on our lives at all ages, never more so than now.
Despite many having found a new appreciation for nature in the city, even the weeds squeezing through the cracks in the pavement, Natural England Survey in September 2020 found that 60% of children spent less time outdoors than normal since the start of the pandemic. 73% of children from lower income households spent less time outside compared to 57% of children from higher income households.
In a time where we are unable to meet up as in big groups, it's still important we all - children and adults - find ways to get outside every day.
What happens if you can't get there?
On days when you can't squeeze in a big adventure, like a Wild Walk, you can always visit one of the parks along the Wild Walks or down your road or open your window and count how many sounds you hear and how many bits of nature you can see.
Check out our top 5 tips for encouraging a reluctant child or friend to get outdoors and the recently republished 5 tips for connecting with the outdoors and more...
If you are struggling to get outdoors regularly, we are here to help. We can provide waterproof outdoor kit, share activities and inspiring ideas, and through our Outdoor Families Facebook Group and the regular email we send to families that have joined our wild walks, we set small regular challenges. We hope in the near future - March - we will be meeting up and joining you on a walk while you build your confidence...
For more information of any sort email Beth, our Community Coordinator, at beth@outdoorpeople.org.uk to find out how we can support you.
With great thanks to our funders, sponsors and partners
