On Sunday 28th September 2025 Equals IW Friends and Family Group members came together to take part in the Autumn Green Time Walk. Participants took part in range of fun informal learning activities while walking and exploring the local countryside and wildlife.
The walk started by joining Mark at Shanklin Railway Station for an autumn Sunday walk along the old railway footpath and woodland trails and an autumn scavenger hunt. They also took part in a team learning activity focused on Why it is important to reconnect to nature?
The group sat on fallen trees in an opening in the centre of the woodland learning about the health benefits of walking. They discussed the boost to wellbeing of the great outdoors for our emotional welling and mental health.
The route was a three mile circular flat and easy walk. It offered a mix of woodland trails, quiet country bridleways and the old railway footpath which passes beneath two original brick bridges. Everyone really enjoyed exploring America Wood as they meandered through the paths and crossed a stream.
Unusually for the Isle of Wight most of the wood today is high oak forest with downy birch. The woodland floor supports a great deal of holly but little else in the way of ground cover. A badger set has been reported and red squirrels are occasionally seen.
The walk followed the valley to Ninham and Ninham Farm where the group joined the bridleway path through Lower Hyde Holiday Park back to Shanklin Railway Station.
On average each person walked three miles or 4.82km and burnt 281 Kcal while walking 6,680 Steps.
The walk was part of the partnership programme between MCEnhancement with Equals IW and the Isle of Wight Council Adult and Community Learning Team.
We took many photos
Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.