Public health through walks in neighbouring green areas.

The main goal for the project 'NÆRTUR' is to highlight walking in neighbouring (green and 'grey') areas, as a low threshold activity with an important public health potential. International research has documented that walking is a simple, attractive and satisfying type of low-intensity physical activity. Norwegian health authorities have documented that only 3 out of 10 adult Norwegians reach the recommended minimum level of physical activity (150 minutes activity with low-intensity per week, in sections of at least 10 minutes). Our basic public health approach: It is easier to make people walk more, than to make them start fitness training. We reviewed international literature on leisure constraints, with a special focus on (neighbourhood) walking. We presented a model with three constraint categories: personal, social and structural. In retrospect and a public health perspective, we find it more important to focus on the need for efficient information/motivation, and not least: full attention on developing attractive, walkable neighbourhoods. The small-town Moss has been our main case study area (survey, qualitative interviews). Do socio-economic and geographic factors influence walking/non-walking in neighbouring areas? (we include both recreational walking and transport walking). And, do socio-economic factors influence who participate in fitness training? The survey revealed that the number of self-reported walks was uncorrelated with all tested socio-economic characteristics - everybody walks. Only dog-owners took more walks than others. Fitness training, however, was more attractive for young adults and economically well situated. The respondents in central Moss were more frequent walkers than those living in northern parts of Moss and closer to the urban forests. This is explained by the fact that people take more transport walks than recreational walks, and transport walks are more frequent in central Moss. The survey revealed something expected: it is challenging to measure people's walking constraints. The most typical answers among the few ones who expressed actual barriers concerned lack of walking companions, and that they disliked walking in the dark and during wintertime. The preferred measures are primarily 'nice and pleasant surroundings', and more specific actions in wintertime: snow clearing and sanding of walking routes. 'The phenomenon of walking' was closer studied through qualitative interviews. The focus of the interviews was tied to the informants' own walking experiences. Walking is dynamic and diverse, a function of being-in-the-world, of lived experience and of going through various phases each day, during the year, in the life span etc. Walking is very flexible, and can be well integrated in everyday life (how, where, with whom, when etc.). The key point is that walking will and must adapt to individual's/families' everyday life. The public health potential is what each and one makes out of their own (everyday) walking, where well-being is a key word. Key points from Moss: measures in the 'grey zone' that makes it safer, more practical, nicer and pleasant to walk are decisive. Furthermore, the distinction between recreational walk and transport walk should be faded down; both can contribute to individual quality of life and well-being, generally improve public health, and be labelled 'urban recreation'. The research project also included studies of municipal planning and management related to physical activity and community development. Three municipalities (Ringebu, Moss and Trondheim) were chosen for a broader analysis of how they work with public health and their efforts concerning local development and promotion of unorganized walking. Especially, we have studied the Municipal plans for sports and physical activity (MSP) for financing sport and activity installations through lottery funds (we added 12 more municipalities to the study). The ambition was to reveal the level of priority given to local unorganized walking and development of walking routes, paths etc. Most municipalities do not take the possibility to finance paths and walkways in green/grey areas; there is an unused potential. We point out that these funds should be closer tied to a public health perspective. More voices should be heard in the local processes (beyond the compulsory local sport council); various local NGOs should be invited. Often, the planning qualifications appear to be absent in these planning processes. May be a certain percentage of the lottery funds should be reserved for paths and walking routes? There are still many examples of good local work tied to paths and walking routes, implemented in a simple, cheap and informal way, usually due to local enthusiasts and voluntary work.

Health benefits from outdoor recreation is well documented. Knowledge is lacking about the potential for attracting local inhabitants (including the in-active) to physical activity in neighbouring nature. This proposal focuses on physical activity, here u nderstood as outdoor recreation and especially walks etc. along paths or tracks in neighbouring green areas and in the context of everyday life. Composing functioning measures to promote everyday use of neighbouring green areas should be based on knowledg e about potential users, including the physically inactive, mapping of physical conditions and a thorough understanding of the local challenges. Our proposal therefore includes studies on the SOCIAL aspects (motivation, hindrances, preferences, self-repor ted benefits), as well as studies of the local RECREATIONAL AREAS (access, environmental quality, infrastructure needs etc.). Constraints/ hindrances that impede walking activity will be investigated in a broad social, life-cycle approach, seen in connect ion with the structural factors and measures for improving recreational management and planning. The combination of social and landscape knowledge will be related to the present situation and challenges in Norwegian PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT concerning publ ic health and outdoor recreation on the municipal level, through 2-3 case-studies. Previous research have especially pointed at the high potential for activating a broader spectrum of the population through everyday outdoor recreation and self-organised a ctivities in local green areas (Breivik & Rafoss 2012; Breivik et al. 2011). Compared with many kinds of organised sports, walks in neighbouring areas are low-threshold activities with a great potential for integration in everyday life. Our study of walks in local green areas will include the perspective of social differences in public health, a basic focus also lifted in the call and pointed out by researchers like Breivik et al. (2011).