Join a friendly and welcoming workshop to learn skills, tips, and tricks for confidently leading guided walks for members of the public.
Guided walks are a perfect way to engage people of all ages with a landscape. Whether exploring a place’s history, natural habitat, or the mindfulness opportunities that can be gained from time spent outdoors, guided walks can be tailored to different audiences and themes.
During this course, you will explore how to plan, prepare, and deliver a guided walk. This will include what to consider, expectations, opportunities and constraints from being outside, how structuring the information in an engaging way can strengthen learning, and how to measure ‘success’.
Through presentations, small group work, discussion and sharing existing knowledge and experience, this will be an interactive day with some indoor and some outdoor activities.
At the end of the day participants will have:
a. Reviewed what makes a guided walk enjoyable for the participants and the leader;
b. Considered how people listen and retain information so what is shared has more impact;
c. Considered the physical aspects of the walk so the event can match the expected audience [or vice versa] – how long, what terrain, what timing, how different people will respond;
d. Developed the content of a possible guided walk and created a framework as a model to help future events;
e. Practiced leading a short walk to bring together all the elements explored.
How to lead enjoyable guided walks
Date: Tuesday 8th April
Time: 9.45am- 3.45pm.
Arrival for 9.45am ready for a 10am start. The workshop will include breaks for refreshments and lunch, and will finish by 4pm.
Cost: £10*
Location: The Singh Room, The Guildhall, Thetford, IP24 2DS
What to bring: Please bring a packed lunch and water/drinks as needed, a notebook and pen, and an open mind and willingness to join in.
What to wear: The workshop will include time spent walking outdoors. Please dress appropriately for the weather, with suitable clothing and footwear for mixed terrain. Walking will predominantly be on footpaths and grass, but may be muddy or damp underfoot.
What will be provided: Teas and coffees will be provided.
Tutor: Your tutor will be Simon Hooton who has had a career in countryside management that has included the BTCV, local authorities, AONB and other protected landscapes. He has given talks, led walks, developed interpretative events, performed in amateur dramatics, and run training courses throughout his career and is keen to share his experiences and raise interpretation aspirations.
Booking: Booking is required to register your place. Book Now via Eventbrite HERE
Accessibility: The workshop will take place inside the Guildhall, which has ramp access and disabled toilets. The day will include some walking outdoors over short distances. This will take place on pavements, and pathways, but may include a mix of terrain which could be uneven of muddy underfoot. If you require any assistance, or have any questions, please contact the BFER Team who will be able to advise and assist:
(E) bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk (T) 01473 265600
*The cost of the workshop has been subsidised with thanks to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If the cost is a barrier for your participation, please contact the BFER Team: (E) bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk (T) 01473 265600