Staying active during the Coronavirus pandemic, wherever possible, is now more important than ever for your physical wellbeing. Exercise will also help with your mental wellbeing as well.
GENTLE EXERCISES YOU CAN DO AT HOME
The NHS have examples of simple exercises that you can do at home. Please click here for details. These are ideal if you're not very active but want to improve your health, lift your mood and remain independent. Don't worry if you haven't done much for a while. These exercises are easy and gentle, and can be done indoors.
ON-LINE EXERCISE
There are a wealth of free on-line exercise options at this time to choose from that are both suitable for adults and children. Search for indoor exercise on the Internet or YouTube. Many of the options are videos that you can exercise along to which will make it much more fun!
For example we have found this list of 25 exercises and indoor you can do with children: see here.
EXERCISING OUTDOORS
This page sets out key FAQS to inform the public and let you know what you can and can't do: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
For government guidance on accessing green spaces safely during lockdown please see here.
MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL PLAY AREAS & OUTDOOR GYM EQUIPMENT
Play areas – Open
Play areas will remain open however when thinking about a visit to play areas, please make sure you:
- Stay at home if you or your children are displaying symptoms of coronavirus, and get a test
- Bring hand sanitiser and use it before and after entering the play area
- Bring wipes and wipe down any equipment your children wish to use, before and after use
- Supervise children at all times, with a maximum of 1 parent/carer per child
- Only allow one child on each piece of equipment at a time
- Maintain social distancing
- Do not allow your child to touch their face while in the play area
- Do not eat or drink anything within the play area
- Take away any litter or rubbish that you have
These rules also apply to the outdoor gym equipment.
THE PARKS TRUST
Use of the parks
We are pleased that parks and green spaces can continue to be enjoyed safely with some restrictions in place. Head to our website for the full guidance: https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/our-policies/statement-on-coronavirus/
The Parks Trust would like to remind everyone to please stay safe in the parks and follow the latest Government guidelines.
The Parks Trust play areas are currently open with restrictions in place, but the outdoor gym equipment is currently closed in accordance with Government guidelines. If you decide to use the play equipment, please ensure you are following the guidance and restrictions in place.
The restrictions and guidance are:
- All play areas and outdoor equipment should be used at your own risk.
- Please supervise children and others in your care.
- Research has found that Coronavirus can survive for several days on hard surfaces. However the risk is generally reduced (but not removed) as surfaces are exposed to UV light & rain.
- Follow the government’s social distancing guidelines and do not use the equipment if this cannot be maintained. In particular be aware of pieces of equipment where others may also be using them.
- Please remember to bring your own hand sanitiser with you and to sanitise your hands before and after using the equipment. Pay particular attention to ensure children remember to do this.
- Remember not to touch your face and to cough and sneeze into a tissue or arm.
- Refrain from consumption of food or drink on equipment or in playground areas.
- As always, remember to dispose of all litter, including any protective wear and take your litter home if no bin provided.
- If you or anyone in your household are showing any symptoms of Coronavirus, please do not use the equipment and follow the Government's advice to self-isolate.
Litter in the Parks
With more people making use of the parks, we have seen a significant increase in litter. This means keeping the parks clean and tidy is becoming a difficult challenge for us. Our Community Ranger team have been working hard to try and tackle the issue by emptying bins and carrying out their litter cleansing patrols more regularly. We are asking visitors to please take their litter home with them.
Stony Stratford Nature Reserve
See what wildlife you can spot in the beautiful Stony Stratford Nature Reserve when you take the 2.5-mile route in The Parks Trust Virtual Walking Festival: https://www.theparkstrust.com/activities/walking/virtual-walking-festival/walk-2-stony-stratford-nature-reserve
Difficulty Rating: 1
Length: 2.5 miles
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Car parking: Watermill Lane Car Park MK12 5NZ
Stony Stratford Nature Reserve provides a variety of artificially created wetland habitats especially for waterfowl and waders. This route starts from the car park off Stratford Road, heading up Watermill Lane before following alongside the River Great Ouze. Eventually the route heads underneath the A5 and into the path surrounding the nature reserve itself before eventually making it back down Watermill Lane to the car park.
Get Cycling
Find a route on the National Cycle Network in the Milton Keynes area here or on the National Cycle Network here.
Running
Are you searching for a new running challenge? Big Cow Running have created a series of 6 routes across Milton Keynes’ beautiful parkland to make up the virtual MK Six Pack Marathon! Find out more and register to take part here.