People living in the Hertfordshire area are being encouraged to get active with a new campaign from Herts Sports Partnership called Love to Move. The campaign, part of the Government’s popular Change4Life campaign, aims to help local people find out their nearest places to walk, cycle, swim, dance or take part in activities like badminton, bowls, netball and more.

Central to the campaign is an interactive web site called: www.lovetomove.org.uk which has links to free maps for local walks and cycle routes, information about free dance classes swimming facilities, local charity walks and an array of events for each district in the county. It also includes a rolling calendar of activities and events in Hertfordshire including bluebell walks, sponsored swims, and community cycle rides.

Information leaflets about opportunities to enjoy more activity in Hertfordshire are also available at all Hertfordshire libraries, pharmacies, GP surgeries, council offices and council run sports centres.

Judy Shardlow, Marketing Manager at Herts Sports and Physical Activity Partnership explains: “Most of us need to be doing more and sitting around less, and the secret to success is finding and activity that you really enjoy. Often the social side of being more active, whether it’s walking in a group or joining a regular badminton or table tennis is what appeals to people and the Love to Move website is a great starting point to find out what’s on near you that you can join in with.”

She added: “There is overwhelming evidence that being active every day makes people happier and healthier. Often the biggest barrier is just getting started, and this website is a fun way to do that. It even includes a fun fitness self assessment tool to help you to establish how much more activity you should be doing.”

The campaign is also encouraging everyone in Hertfordshire to set themselves a Love to Move challenge: an activity goal, such as walking 6 miles a week or completing one or more local charity walks. The challenge can be entered via the website, with the opportunity to win a free holiday for two adults in the Lake District courtesy of Ramblers Worldwide Holidays or one of five wii fit consoles with wii fit plus.

To find out more about Love to Move visit: www.lovetomove.org.uk or contact Judy Shardlow on 01707 281006 or j.shardlow@herts.ac.uk