'More than putting one foot in front of the other' - Our Blaze Trails user survey report 2021

We know walking with our babies means something...and it feels pretty momentous to be able to start evidencing it.

We're so chuffed to share the findings of our first user survey, which our friend Louise Platt at Manchester Metropolitan University (who leads the Walking with Babies project) kindly analysed and presented in this super snazzy report.

We did this survey back in 2021 and we worked with Louise last year to bring it all together - the words and insights our community shared really underpinned everything we tried and achieved in 2022.

What really comes out about walking with our babies, especially in a group, is connection.

Parents told us that walking in groups results in:

• Connection to each other

• Connection to our babies

• Connection to nature

Just what us new parents could really do with 💛

We were really struck by how many people - about two thirds - said they had experienced challenges with their mental health during the postnatal period. It shows a huge need for parents to be able to have opportunities that care for and nourish them, at the same time as they’re caring for their babies.

Parents said getting out walking really helped their mental and physical health. But one of the key barriers people said they faced is not having anyone to get outdoors with.

This is why we’re so committed to helping parents come together and walk. It’s simply to help people meet each other, outdoors. We’re starting to show that once parents have these kinds of spaces for themselves, they can experience a whole range of benefits.

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed, and to Louise for her hard work on the report. We hope you enjoy having a read.

We're now diving into the analysis of 2022's community survey and we can't wait to share those insights too!

Thank you, Team Blaze ☀️

Winter walking with a toddler - our tips and hacks

Tantrums, constant demands for snacks and a total refusal to wear a hat or coat. Sound familiar?! Getting a toddler out of the house and around a walk can take resilience at the best of times -add winter weather and it might feel impossible.

The benefits of getting outside with your little explorer are many for both of you, much needed headspace, fresh air, discovering nature together - the list is endless. Getting out in the colder months is no exception as long as you are prepared , it can be just as achievable as walking in the summer. 

Here at Blaze Trails we have walked in hailstones and snow, wind and rain, flash floods, you name it! But we've always arrived home smiling. We would encourage all parents to get outside all year around, as it really is such an important part of staying happy and helping us cope with the every day. 

Here we share our top five tips to help you get out with your little ones all year around.

1. Check the weather

Sounds obvious. The night before and on the morning, check what the weather will be doing throughout the day so that you can pack for every eventuality. Don’t be put off by only sticking to lowland in the winter months, taking your toddler to look at snow capped mountains is an amazing experience, and done across the world where often parents can’t avoid it! However, remember that Mountain conditions can often be completely different to the conditions on lower ground.

Keep an eye on the Mountain Weather Information Service. (https://www.mwis.org.uk/ ) Take into account wind speed, temperature and visibility. If it’s not looking great, the mountain isn’t going anywhere, hang on for a better day and stick to lowland walking instead. 

2. Choose winter-friendly routes

Forests and parks often have more shelter and are great for exploring in the winter just as much as summer: footprints in the snow, icicles, morning frost on the ground - it’s all exciting when you’re small!

If conditions are icy, try to stick to flat ground so you’re not slipping and sliding down hills - unless that’s the plan and you take a sledge! If you do head for any hills, it’s worth taking walking poles with you to steady yourself, or wearing micro-spikes on your boots, especially if you’ll be carrying your toddler.

And don’t feel like a ‘good’ or ‘successful’ walk has to be a long walk. Planning walks that are short and sweet, whether just a stroll around your neighbourhood to look at the Christmas lights, or a wander round a local country park in the snow, can feel refreshing and full of interest without having to be overly long. You’ll also minimise the chances of either of you getting cold and miserable.

3. Dress you and toddler appropriately: Think of the weather you go out in, and what you wear for it. It’s just as straightforward with toddlers in the winter - layers are your friend. It is highly likely you will be walking slowly with a toddler and so you need to make sure you are both dressed warmly enough for long periods standing still (even if getting them to actually wear the clothes takes a bit of bribery!). Cover their extremities - thick socks (ski socks are great) and waterproof insulated gloves, a breathable thermal base layer, waterproofs when needed and good hat work a treat.

Also remember that little humans are pretty good at letting us know when they’re not happy, so if they’re too cold they will let you know about it!

4. Keep fuelled and hydrated

High energy snacks (ALL THE SNACKS) for you and them, and flasks of warm drinks for older little explorers. If you have a baby with you too and need to breastfeed while you’re walking, consider things such as an extra big coat to place over baby and you, or even a survival shelter, which packs up small and just goes over you and baby to keep the wind and cold out. Feeding a baby outside can also feel daunting, whatever the weather. If you are sitting out in exposed conditions, make sure you both keep warm, have something to sit on such as a rolled up scarf or blanket, and enjoy that sit down and time together - as well as having entertainment (or cake) to hand to keep your toddler still for more than five minutes!

5. Most importantly, Enjoy yourselves! If you’re not enjoying it, neither will they! Take in the views, sing songs and talk about what you see. There is no greater thing in life. 

How to keep your toddler warm on winter walks

Baselayers: For both of you, the right base layer can be a game changer and for children you can get some really affordable good quality base layer options. Something such as merino wool will keep you all warm but also wick away sweat when doing all of that charging about. You can pick up some brilliant merino baselayer sets from newborn age on sites such as Decathlon and Sports Pursuit. They are also lovely and comfy for when you’re back home in front of the fire with your coats gently steaming! There are also brands which specialise in merino baby base layers. 

Fleece Layer: To keep the heat in, again, there are some great companies out there that make mini-fleeces. If you have a smaller baby consider a fleece onesie, and avoid going too thick or puffy a suit as whether in a sling or back carrier babies need their hips in the right position (which can be compromised in padded snowsuits). 

Warm coat: Down jackets are great as they are warm but breathable and stuff away quite small if you need to take them off. There are some brands which make waterproof jackets with a detachable down coat underneath. Ski jackets are also a brilliant option as they’re often super warm as well as being waterproof - you can often pick them up second hand and barely used.

Waterproof layer: Rain, mud, if it’s there a toddler will find it. If you live in the UK, especially if you are heading to a mountainous region, you will likely encounter rain or sleet. Don't underestimate the investment in a decent pair of waterproofs (you and them) as you are layering them up, and buy up a size so that they last longer. Sallopettes and jackets are a great option for bigger babies and toddlers as they’re easy to get on and off, and protect bums and backs from getting cold or wet.

Thick socks: one of life’s little pleasures however big you get. Especially important if your little one is wearing wellies as these are waterproof but often not very well-insulated and can result in cold toes.

Boots and booties: If you have a little explorer who may come out of the carrier, invest in a decent pair of waterproof walking boots. Not only will they keep their feet warm and dry, they will also support their feet and ankles on uneven ground. If you have a smaller baby who isn't yet walking, down waterproof booties are perfect to keep those little toes warm and snug. 

Hat: An essential for any winter walk. If you have a small person determined to remove hats, go for something with a chin strap they have the advantage of keeping ears warm too. 

Gloves/Mitts: we’ve lost so many of these, so worth having extra pairs! Ski mittens and gloves are a great option when its really cold. ‘Magic gloves’ are also brilliant to allow your toddler to pick things up and use their hands, they also grow with them so will last a good amount of time. 

Buff: Great to warm necks and wipe snotty noses. Adult buffs work just as well as child specific and can be turned into a hat if required!

Skin: it’s just as important to look after all of our skin in winter as well as summer, go for a factor 50spf even in the winter, there are some great brands which make toddler specific cold and wind balms and lip balms so its worth doing some research. 

Spare clothes: As any parent of a toddler will know, once the socks are wet it’s game over. Always bring spare clothes!

Need some company? Look no further! 

Blaze Trails groups walk all year round, in all weathers, with babies as young as a few weeks old up to confident little explorers. You’ll find nothing but support from the parents on our walks - we’d love you to join us for a wet, cold and mud-covered walk with a warm cuppa and a chat at the end (we also offer dry and warm walks too if that’s your thing!) 

No group in your area? No problem, get in touch with us and we can help you to set one up and get out walking with like minded parents!

Blaze Trails receives over £2k thanks to Co-operative Local Community Fund

We were delighted to find out that Blaze Trails CIC raised a whopping £2,171.78 as one of The Co-operative Local Community Fund causes for 2021-22! 

We want to say a huge thanks to all the generous Co-op members who nominated our Blaze Trails parent and baby walking groups as their chosen cause, including many members at our local store in Helmsley, North Yorkshire. By shopping and scanning their membership card, 1p in every £1 they spent went to us. We can’t believe how much you wonderful people raised to support our work getting families outdoors!

The money will enable us to: 

• Train and support our organisers around Diversity and Inclusion.

• Expand the reach of Blaze Trails in the community by being deliberately inclusive of marginalised communities.

• Expand Blaze Trails into a new part of Yorkshire, providing group walks, support and information to connect new parents in North Yorkshire. 

• Through this work, support improved mental health for parents by reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness, and by helping them feel connected to their community. 

We also want to say a huge thank you to all the staff at the local Helmsley Co-operative store, and our Local Community Member Pioneer for being so supportive. Our Director Erin went to meet the Co-op store manager to receive our donation.

And our donation wasn’t the only thing to celebrate on that day - it turns out Erin was in early labour with her second baby when she went to collect the cheque - what commitment to the cause!

Thank you again to all the Co-op members who supported us, we can’t wait to keep you updated with the impact your kind donations will have in helping more parents experience the benefits of the great outdoors.

Evaluation of our pilot walking project for Syrian refugee families

We’re so pleased to share the evaluation of a wonderful project we were part of this summer that supported Syrian refugee families to walk together in Greenwich, South London.

Led by our Plumstead Blaze Trails walking group organiser Laura, as part of her own work at Between Humans, we partnered with Greenwich Inclusion Project (GrIP) to:

• bring the joys and benefits that come with walking to Syrian refugee families

• to increase confidence amongst participants around getting outdoors

• to help families with babies and young children from the Syrian community to feel connected to their local area.

The project also sought to explore how organisations like Blaze Trails CIC, who supports parents across the country to get outdoors, and a local place-based community organisation like Greenwich Inclusion Project, could work together to help groups traditionally under-represented in the outdoors to access nature.

Four walks took place between July-September 2022, with 12 Syrian families attending, and 37 people involved in total.

The evaluator, Ruth Naughton-Doe, a Research Fellow at the University of York, used creative methods such as ‘zine-making to illuminate the outcomes of the project around the following areas:

• Seeing new places

• Improving English language

• Physical health

• Well-being

• Time in nature

• Quality time with friends and family

• Sharing food

• Benefits for children

Ruth also identified some barriers or challenges that families faced in getting outdoors:

• Weather

• Public transport and mobility

• Being busy or having other responsibilities

What comes through in the evaluation is not only positive experiences that families had while out walking together, including the important role that sharing food played in enjoying time outdoors, but also the learning for us and other organisations of how we can partner to support similar community groups to get outside in the future.

We’re really excited to continue supporting GrIP to build capacity in their organisation and run volunteer-led walks in Greenwich, and to see how we can support other local Blaze Trails walking groups to connect with community organisations in their local areas.

We hope you enjoy reading the evaluation - please do get in touch with any of us involved to ask questions, or to work with us and build on the learning within.

Click here to download the full report, or read the report below.

With special thanks from Blaze Trails CIC to:

Laura, who’s ideas, energy and commitment to her local community were at the heart of this project

Fatima, who took such care to support the families to take the leap into walking together

Ruth, for working alongside the partnership to capture the project’s outcomes

To find out more, please contact:

Fatima, Sanctuary Project Volunteer Co-ordinator, Greenwich Inclusion Project: fatima.jama@griproject.org.uk

Laura, Founder, Between Humans: hello@between-humans.com

Katy, Founder, Blaze Trails CIC: hello@blazetrails.org.uk