Project encouraging local people to explore city’s greenways receives boost from Bluestar

A project designed to motivate Southampton residents visiting GP surgeries and pharmacies to step outside and find new ways to boost their wellbeing, has gained financial support from Bluestar.

Community media social enterprise We Make Southampton CIC, has devised a collection of six one-hour walks along Southampton greenways - all of which are accessible along the city’s bus network. 

“Walking in nature is vital for health, but many people either remain unaware of the natural gifts nearby, or feel intimidated by the unfamiliar,” said We Make Southampton CIC founder, Claudia Murg. 

“Many Southampton residents, including myself, discovered green spaces on their doorstep, during the pandemic.

“Back in 2024, we received a grant from Public Health Southampton to curate six Green Hour walks, in digital format. These included essential information people like to know before they set out.

“We decided to name these walks after the local people who volunteer their time to look after the greenways or take local people on walks.

“Until now, the walks have only been available in digital format on the free award-winning walking app Go Jauntly, in the album The Green Hour.

“From the very start of the project, we wanted to offer posters to local surgeries and pharmacies, to reach people who might not be aware of this natural resource to improve their physical and mental health.

“So we turned to Bluestar for a £500 grant to print the A3 posters which we will distribute to GP surgeries and pharmacies.

“I’d like to thank Bluestar for its generosity - which will benefit many people within the city it serves.”

Bluestar general manager, Richard Tyldsley, added: “We love the fact that people in Southampton can travel by bus and then take some wonderful walks around our green city - and that can only benefit their health. 

“We Make Southampton has created a thoroughly worthwhile project, and we’re pleased to be supporting it through our community fund.”

Our community fund donates to good causes on three separate months - January, May and October. Click here to find out more about this initiative.