Activities to help people boost their wellbeing at country park

16 Jun 2025

New outdoor yoga sessions are to be held at West Stow Country Park from later this month as the park furthers its support for people’s physical and mental health.

The one-hour yoga sessions will be held every Sunday from 29 June to 14 September and are open to people of all abilities.

The subsidised sessions are part of a project by West Suffolk Council and the Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers (BFER) Landscape Partnership, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to offer further health and wellbeing activities in the council’s parks.

The yoga sessions complement a mindfulness trail which has also been created at West Stow Country Park.

The Wes Hal Mindfulness Trail encourages people to use sight, sound, touch, smell and their imagination, to take time out from life’s daily demands, relax and engage with the natural world. ‘Wes hal’ comes from the Middle English toast meaning ‘be thou hale’, which means ‘be in good health’.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council said: “We care passionately about our parks. They are important places not only to nature and biodiversity but to the physical and mental health of our residents. They are places where people go out to exercise and socialise, where children can play and where people can relax and enjoy a walk amid wonderful, beautiful surroundings.

“These outdoor yoga sessions and the mindfulness trail are another way people visiting West Stow Country Park can escape some of the stress and demands of daily life, boost their sense of wellbeing and connect with nature.”

Visitors to the country park can follow the Wes Hal Mindfulness Trail on their phone on the West Stow website or pick up a trail map from the visitor centre.

The yoga sessions start at 9.30am and costs £6 if booked in advance or £8 on the day. Some of the sessions are for over 16s only. For further details including how to book, visit the West Stow website.

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