It is not an easy task to encourage children to venture out on muddy paths to leave the comfort of their bedroom and the games’ screens, but it can be done!

In 2013 the Mytholmroyd group of Walkers are Welcome commissioned a local artist to design a booklet of six children’s walks to encourage them to explore the countryside. The booklet was designed to capture the interest of children by an artist who was skilled in producing such work.

Each walk has its own name, and the walk is waymarked with the respective walk signs.  The local footpath maintenance group ensured the routes were well marked and maintained and they continue to do so.

The booklet gives advice and guidance on what to wear, snacks to take and a reminder of the Country Code. It is packed full of interesting facts such as ‘the word dandelion translated means Lion’s tooth’.  There are also quizzes and suggestions as to what to look for on the walk. There is even a honeybee cookie recipe following the walk to see the bee boles on the hillside. Another interesting fact – ‘A honey bee has five eyes’. The walks are simply explained and easy to follow, road tested by local children.

Each primary school child in Mytholmroyd received a free copy of the booklet and the local primary schools were encouraged to teach the children about walking in the local area. Volunteers also led children’s walks in the summer. This is an ongoing project with booklets handed out each year to the school’s reception class.

The whole project was funded by the local town council, the county council, the cooperative society and the rural development and community small grants body.

Available to buy, follow on your ‘phone or download to print off, see webpage http://hbwalkersaction.org.uk/making-tracks/