A walk in the park – our favourite park walks

When it comes to walking, parks can often be overlooked in favour of more epic scenery or more challenging routes. But for new parents, a walk in a local park can offer great solace; particularly as many parks have toilets and changing facilities, as well as play areas for the older kids and sometimes even a café for a crucial caffeine fix.

Throughout the pandemic, our local parks and green spaces have provided a vital escape – allowing us to get some fresh air and giving us a much-needed morale boost during lockdown.  

We asked some of Team Blaze about their favourite parks. Here’s what they said…

Priory Park, Reigate

“We love going here. It’s lovely and big, and about half of it is paved so very accessible for pushchairs/scooters/little bikes. There's a big pond where you can spot loads of different birds. Plus, it has a fantastic child-friendly café in the middle, and a huge children's play area too. The other half of it is pretty wild, with woodlands and steep and multitudinous routes. The perimeter is about 5 kilometres in all, and as well as paved areas and the woodlands, there's plenty of wide-open grassy space for picnics and games. It’s just lovely.”

Ché, Surrey Organiser

Langley Park, Iver

“This is my absolute favourite place. It’s a beautiful space that is always calm and peaceful with so much to explore. It has some stunning features like an arboretum, lots of history, a lake and an incredible show of Rhododendrons in the spring. There’s an easy route along to the lake and back across fields and through a woodland of Sequoia trees, which takes in the best of the park. A cafe, lots of parking, baby changing facilities, a little play park and buggy-friendly paths make it a perfect location for a walk!”

Chrissy, East Berkshire Organiser

West Bank Park, York

“York boasts some beautiful parks, and West Bank Park in Holgate is no exception. This 16-acre hidden gem is a 20-minute walk from York City Centre and is a real escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was originally a nursery owned by botanist, James Backhouse, who travelled the world seeking out rare species of plants and trees to bring back for his clients. This means that the park is packed full of beautiful mature trees and plants, many of which you won’t find elsewhere in the UK.

“Explore the woodland and follow the marked tree trail to discover more about what you see. You can also visit the wildlife pond and bird-feeding areas, as well as the beautiful rose terraces. On Tuesdays and Thursdays a group of volunteers run The Little Friends of Westbank Park for 0-4 year-olds and the After School Friends for 4-7 year olds. You can find both groups on Facebook. If that’s not enough to entice you, there are two children’s playgrounds, a basketball court, a meadow, two bowls greens and a café. It’s a great way to discover nature for free without leaving the city.”

Erin, North Yorkshire Organiser

Draycote Water, near Rugby

“We love an 8km walk around Draycote Water. It has great views, fab spots for a picnic, a hard surface track, which is perfect for buggies, and so much to explore for toddlers. It’s our favourite park. And what’s more, there’s plenty of parking, a nice cafe, toilets with changing facilities and huge play area.”

Klara, Northamptonshire Organiser

Hughenden Park, High Wycombe

“This is our fave park, and we live right near it, which is even better! It’s a National Trust property but the wider parkland is council run and there’s free parking at the church. As well as beautiful parkland with lots of trails and places to find off the beaten track, there’s a really nice children’s playground on the Wycombe edge of the park. In the spring there’s an amazing display of daffodils and autumn is brilliant for some nice crunchy leaf walks. There’s a stream running through the bottom of the parkland, which is lovely for paddling or cooling dogs down! Loos and a cafe are available up in the manor courtyard, and you don’t need to be an NT member to access them.”

Jen, Buckinghamshire Organiser

Graves Park, Sheffield

“Our favourite park has to be this one. It has amazing views towards the Peak District, which gives you a sense of freedom and adventure, even when you're not there. The birds are amazing, and there are always new paths to find. For a longer solo adventure, it's also part of the 15-mile Sheffield Round Walk! There are also animals, a play area and a café. What more could you want?!”

Hazel, Sheffield Organiser

What’s your favourite park? Let us know.

The truth about postpartum feet

There are plenty of things I didn’t know about the way my body would change post-pregnancy. One of my biggest gripes is my fat feet! My arches dropped, my mid-foot went wide, and I could swear they’re a bit longer too. It reminds me of a just-melting ice cream, the way they’ve softened and spread.

After having a baby, I started going for walks with my friend, Blaze founder Katy. I was hooked pretty quickly. Going for a walk and chatting to other parents always made me feel better and sleep better (not to mention the baby!). The only problem was that I didn’t have shoes that fit - no one warned me that I’d have postpartum fat feet!

I wasn’t an active person before I had a baby. The best I had for walking was a pair of trainers that I’d bought and worn for a few weeks one January when I decided to go to the gym. But now they felt so tight and uncomfortable when I tried to squeeze into them, there was no way I could manage a hike, let alone one where I was carrying my baby.

My first parent and baby walks were in the winter, so I wore some oversized wellies. I also continued to wear a pair of comfortable-but-ugly sporty slip-ons which I’d bought in my last trimester to house my permanently swollen feet. My feet weren’t swollen any more, they were just inexplicably fat. I kept waiting for them to return to their normal size before investing in walking boots, but months passed, then a year, and my feet were still flat and wide. By then, I was borrowing my partner’s trainers, which were two sizes bigger than mine.

I only decided to invest in a new pair of shoes when I realised how much attention we gave our child’s footwear. We knew he needed the right size and proper support, but I wasn’t applying the same logic to myself. I didn’t think about what size I was ‘supposed’ to be, or compare to my pre-baby self, I just did the measurements and went from there. I’m a full size bigger and I also need a wide fit.

Apparently all this is due to our ligaments loosening and relaxing during pregnancy, which is the body’s way of preparing the pelvis for childbirth. I knew that my pelvis and hips would change, but I didn’t expect it to extend to my feet! Of course, our feet also impact our balance, and our knee and hip joints. We rely on our feet to move around - even more crucial when we have little ones - so they’re absolutely worth taking care of.

I’m not sure why it took me so long to get proper walking shoes, given I’m most definitely a fully-fledged rambler these days. I expect it was a mixture of vanity, sleep deprivation and forgetting to focus on myself - sometimes meeting our basic needs feels like an indulgence (solo toilet trips, anyone?!).  And I am always surprised by the lack of information out there about our postpartum bodies, given how many of us have them. 

So here I am, spreading the word about feet. If you’ve noticed these changes or you are feeling down about them, please know you’re not alone. And remember that it’s not an indulgence to meet your needs - appropriate footwear doesn’t have to be expensive, but it is essential for safe trips outdoors. I found the perfect pair of walking shoes in Merrell’s Moab FST 2 Mid, they fit my wider feet like a glove, are waterproof, supportive and most importantly, comfortable. But like any piece of kit or clothing, it’s important to fit something that’s right for you and fits your ever changing post partum body, so take time to try before you buy and find a pair of shoes or boots that suit you.

Epic hikes!

If you’re confident getting outdoors, Blaze Trails is here to cheer you on and offer some practical info for hiking with a little one.

Maybe you want to get back into proper hiking, three-hour walks, or you’ve been babycarrying for a while and you fancy the challenge of a hike up Snowdon.

If you’re used to getting outdoors, you’re off to a great start. The biggest difference is that you’ll be carrying extra weight: extra food, baby paraphernalia like changing mats and bottles, not to mention a whole human being on your front or back!

Kit

With limited space but needing to bring more things with you, the kit you use and how you use it is important.

When you’re considering which baby carrier to use, think about the packing space as well as how much it weighs. Will you always be trekking with another adult? If so, they can offer a helping hand or carry an additional bag, so that might also change your decisions about what kind of carrier to use.

You’ll also need a raincover – which can be useful in windy conditions too – so be sure to factor that in, as well as a small mirror so that you can keep an eye on your baby while you walk, if you need to. Some carriers have both of these built in.

For you, if you’re going on a proper hike you’ll need weather-appropriate clothes and decent shoes – and if your little one might walk a bit too, make sure they’ve got sturdy and comfortable shoes too.

When you’re carrying extra weight with a mind of its own, you might find walking poles helpful for your balance.

And don’t forget food! You’ll need even more fuel when you’re carrying your child, and they’ll need plenty of snacks too.

Planning where to walk

When planning where to walk, remember that going out with a baby, toddler or child always takes much longer than you think! 

Do make sure that there are places on your route which are safe for your little one to toddle around. You’ll want to stop and get your little one out of the carrier for a bit – how often will depend on their needs, but we’d suggest doing this relatively frequently – and of course to have a bite to eat!

As ever, start small to see how you go, and work your way up from there.

When you’re out walking

While you’re out walking, basic safety applies: take a map, a charged phone, a first aid kit, tell people where you’re going and how long you should be. Take a physical map (and possibly compass), and know how to read them, as well as using an app just in case you run out of battery or signal.

Go with someone – especially while you’re getting to grips with new kit. As well as making you feel safer, sharing an adventure outdoors with a friend is lots of fun! They’ll also be able to keep an eye on your baby for you, and if they’re baby carrying you can help them out too.

Enjoy yourself and let us know how it goes!

So get your map out, get your hiking app out, make sure you’ve got comfortable kit, and get out there! Find yourself a walking buddy through our Blaze local groups, and don’t forget to check out our website for comprehensive tips and recommendations from other parents.

Your first walk with your baby

Our most important advice is to just go for it! It doesn’t matter if you’ve brushed your hair or got any make-up on, just get out the front door and put one foot in front of the other. You’ll feel great - your confidence will grow with each walk.

Our top TEN tips for your first parent-baby walk

Rule no.1. Enjoy it! Be mindful - remember to relax and just breathe. Savor your walk and take in the nature around you.

Take your time. Be prepared to adapt your walk, you will stop for breaks more often than you normally would. Especially if you’re postpartum, be gentle with your body and build in rest times en route.

Watch your footing and for uneven ground.  Especially if baby-carrying, your centre of balance may take a bit of getting used to, and you might not be able to see your feet!

When you’re feeding your baby, you might want to have something to sit on, whether that’s a mat, coat, plastic bag. If you’re bottle feeding, have one extra bottle in case you get stuck out for longer, plus a flask with hot water. If you’re breastfeeding, remember to take extra water to keep you hydrated.

Lots of first-time parents are nervous about changing their baby while walking. If you’re far from facilities, just take a mat to do it on the grass or forest floor. If it’s raining, it can be really helpful to have a walking buddy on hand to hold an umbrella for you, but if you’re out solo you can balance an umbrella on its side to keep your baby dry. They’ll love it! 

It’s not just your baby who will feel the call of nature! If you’re baby-wearing somewhere without facilities and you haven’t got a friend with you to mind the baby for a minute, either lay the baby down, or you’d be surprised at how well practised you can get at weeing in the woods with a baby attached! One of our favourite tips from our community is to hold on to a tree for balance! 

In terms of your baby’s safety, monitor their temperature and position in the carrier or pram, and adjust their clothing layers or position as needed.

Pay attention to your energy levels; if you start to feel tired or like baby is getting heavy then start heading back so you don’t get stuck too far away. 

Babies will probably find being outside really stimulating and you can talk to them about what you’re seeing, describing the landscape or colours, but also let loose and get practising those animal noises or have a singalong - feel liberated in the outdoors! 

Finally, while you’re out do make sure you capture your brilliant memories of walking with your baby - they’ll be some of your favourite photos to look back on.

Remember

If you need encouragement or support, look no further than your local Blaze Trails group. Your community is here for you no matter what stage you’re at in your walking or parenting journey!