Trainee Exmouth GP puts together new guides for nature walks around the town

An Exmouth trainee GP has put together new walking guides to encourage residents to get outdoors and enjoy nature in the town.

Dr Tom Wright developed the Green Health Route guides with the district council's Wild East Devon team for the Wild Exmouth project, and they have been designed by local graphic designer Beci Boxall.

Dr Tom Wright, GP Trainee at Imperial Medical Practice, said: "These 'Green Health Routes' show that it is possible to get active in nature from the front door of the GP surgery, even in urban areas like Exmouth.

"A recent study has shown that visiting nature once a week is associated with better health.

"Just spending time in nature can help manage anxiety and depression and improve emotional wellbeing.

"Combine this with being more physically active and we see improvements in all areas of our health including weight management, heart health and blood sugar control.

"Why not make one of your new year's resolutions to get active outdoors in nature?"

How does it work?

You can pick up the guides from any of the following five GP surgeries in Exmouth: Imperial, Haldon, Claremont, Rolle, and Raleigh. You can also download them online here.

There are three guides in total, and each has two walks of different lengths around the town, starting from the front door of a given surgery.

They include maps with wildlife and highlights to look out for, as well as telling you distances, calories, step count, and timings.