If you live near Hilton, you might want to take part in a new free walk organised by Get Active in The Forest which is starting on Wednesday 18 June and will take place on the first and third Wednesday of every month. If you miss the walk on Wednesday 18 June, why not go along on Wednesday 2 July?

Says Cllr John Grant, Vice Chairman of the Housing and Community Services Committee, "The group is meeting at a central location, the Hilton Brook Pub. You never know, some people in the pub might decide to join in the walking group. It’s open to everyone. Young and old alike. The walk starts at 6.30pm and lasts for about an hour. It is being led by two trained health walk leaders".

"People at Willington now have even more chances to get healthy as the regular fortnightly Get Active in The Forest walk is now weekly. Every Thursday afternoon the group meet at Willington Marina car park at 1.30pm and the walk lasts for about ninety minutes."

People who live near Swadlincote can also take a stroll to slimness as on Thursday afternoons there’s the hour-long walk from Newhall Surgery which meets at 1.45pm. On Friday people can turn up for the sixty minutes Prestwood Surgery walk from Midway Road, which starts at 2pm.

Cllr Grant continues, "The Get Active in The Forest scheme is aimed at all ages. This first new walk this year is part of the Council's commitment in our Corporate Plan to improving the health and well-being of the community. We promised to develop two new walking groups. The Hilton group is our first new group. Along with the existing walks based on surgeries and the increased number of walks from Willington, working with the Get Active in The Forest scheme, we aim to help local people enjoy getting fitter. If anyone would like more information about the walks they should ring Vicky Smyth on 01283 563483 or email her Vicky.smyth@south-derbys.gov.uk

The Get Active in The Forest scheme, based at Rosliston Forestry Centre in South Derbyshire, has been judged to be one of the ten best sports activities in the country to have received funding from the National Lottery. Get Active in The Forest has made it to the semi-finals of the National Lottery Awards. It is the only semi-finalist from Derbyshire in all of the seven categories of the Award.

The Get Active in The Forest scheme can get through to the finals and a sparkling special awards show which will be live on BBC1 in August by people voting for the project.

To vote for free for Get Active in The Forest please go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards and click on the Best Sports Projects category and cast your vote or you can vote by phone 0845 386 3453. Phone calls from a BT landline are charged at the BT lo-call landline rate