April 2025
The Harrow Rec Wellbeing Walk
Aruna Sidhu
Our walking group outside the park cafe
I’m Aruna Sidhu, the Founder and Walk Leader of the Harrow Rec Wellbeing Walk ‘Harrow Rec Walk and Talk’. I have lived next to Harrow Recreation Ground with my family since October 2002 and the park has been at the heart of our family life ever since. It is a green oasis a stone’s throw away, where we have enjoyed leading an active lifestyle. We love exercising regularly in the fresh air, such as running, cycling, power walking and walking our golden retriever Krish. My two sons took their first steps in the park and enjoyed the children’s playground, football club, cricket nets and park activities as they grew up.
In recent years, I have joined the park Bootcamp and Tai Chi groups. In addition, I started volunteering in the park with the Community Gardening and Litter Picking Team and assisted at park events such as the Dog Show and Navratri Garba Festival. In 2023, I was elected as a member of the Management Committee of the Harrow Recreation Ground Users Association and I am proud to be more actively involved in the life of the park. I trained as a Wellbeing Walk Leader with Harrow Council and launched the Harrow Rec Wellbeing Walk in October 2023.
Our Social Hub at the park cafe after our walk
The Harrow Rec Wellbeing Walk is one of the Harrow Health Walks established in conjunction with Harrow Council and Ramblers Wellbeing Walks. It takes place in the beautiful environs of Harrow Recreation Ground on Friday mornings from 10.45am to 11.15am throughout the year. We meet at the park cafe at 10.45am and I lead a thirty-minute guided walk through our wonderful park.
Walking through our wonderful park
The Wellbeing Walk is suitable for walkers of all ages and levels of fitness. In addition, we support walkers with disabilities, including wheelchair users. We have a large group of regular walkers, twenty-one at the last count! The walk is supported by Rish, who is a trained Wellbeing Walk Leader and guides the walkers at the back of the group. The walk is also dog friendly and my golden retriever Krish joins us on the walk every week!
Coffee and conversation at the park cafe
The Harrow Rec Wellbeing Walk is a brilliant way for you to keep active while making social connections. On completion of the Wellbeing Walk, we visit the park cafe for coffee and conversation! This Social Hub after the Wellbeing Walk has been found to be very beneficial for enhancing a sense of connection and community within our group.
Our Wellbeing Walk has been going from strength to strength since it was first launched and I was delighted and proud when I was awarded the ‘Inspirational Leader Award’ by Harrow Council last year!
Aruna receiving her award at the Health Walks Volunteer Awards Ceremony
‘Harrow Rec Walk and Talk’ is more than just a walk in the park. We are a vibrant community of like-minded individuals with a passion for the great outdoors. In addition to the weekly Wellbeing Walk, we organise visits to other local green spaces, such as Eastcote House Gardens, Ruislip Lido and the Grim’s Dyke Estate. And of course, our beautiful Harrow Rec is the perfect spot for our annual Summer Picnic!
Our visit to the Grim's Dyke Estate
New walkers are most welcome to join our Wellbeing Walk on Friday mornings in Harrow Recreation Ground. We hope to see you at one of our walks soon!
If you would like to know more, the button below will take you to a poster with more information.
My walk is open for everyone who wants to try. In Harrow Rec we also have the "Step Up Together Women's Walks" if you prefer. These walks are led by Sheela and Dominica. The button below will take you to a poster with more information about them.
Harrow Rec is just one of many locations across our borough where you can join a health walk. Follow the link below to find a walk near you.
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