The Health and Environmental Benefits of Footpaths

Walking and footpaths are highly beneficial to our health and wellbeing, it is a simple, free form of exercise which can be incorporated into our daily lives. Going to the gym isn’t for everyone but organisations like the NHS and the National Institute for Health Care Excellence identify and champion the importance of walking as an important way of getting the recommended 150 minutes per week of exercise or 10,000 steps per day. And it can all start with a brisk 10 minute walk each day.

It is estimated that there are over 140,000 miles of public rights of way in England and Wales. At least 91,000 miles of which are footpaths and 20,000 miles of bridleways. This probably doesn’t take into consideration all the urban and city routes, park footpaths, canal tow paths, heritage trails, riverside paths, commons, woodlands, heaths, nature reserves and many more places to walk.

With so many routes available, walking along this network of footpaths can easily be made part of daily life. Thinking “Do I really need to make this journey by car?” will benefit you and the environment. Often footpaths take us on a more scenic and peaceful route, away from traffic and exhaust fumes. In doing so the emissions will drop, air quality will be improved, and you will improve heart and lung fitness, strengthen muscles and bones, and improve balance. Regular walking is good for mental health, and for managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and more.

Replace Gravel Footpaths with Colourful Surfacing

Keeping footpaths accessible and well maintained will encourage people to use them more in their daily lives. For those who are less mobile having a level, trip free surface is vital. Therefore, any slippery gravel footpaths can be replaced with NatraTex, an alternative to resin bound and traditional black asphalt. Where pedestrians and cyclists must share a route and could come into conflict, it is possible to separate them by creating segregation through different coloured paving.

Durable Surfacing for Footpaths from NatraTex

NatraTex has a proven record of supplying durable surfacing for footpaths around the country. We work with local authorities and urban developers to provide surfacing solutions to pedestrians, cycle paths and many more rights of way. Discover more by contacting us to discuss your project requirements further. We are here to provide surfacing which benefits the community in your area.