Cornwall’s ‘Walk & Talk’ Events: Summer Fun for Families

Families across Cornwall are being invited to join a series of ‘Walk & Talk’ events this summer, designed to encourage children and their parents to connect, explore, and enhance communication skills in the great outdoors.

Organised by Healthy Cornwall, Active Cornwall, and the Cornwall Ramblers, these events offer a simple, enjoyable way for families to engage in meaningful conversations while exploring local parks and trails. The walks begin at various locations, including local libraries and Family Hubs, and are led by trained guides.

Walk and Talk Trail Cards: A Handy Tool for Families

As part of the experience, each family will receive a set of Walk and Talk Trail cards, thoughtfully created by the National Literacy Trust in collaboration with Better Health Start for Life. These cards are packed with tips and tricks aimed at helping young children develop their speech, language, and communication skills.

The trail cards include:

• Information on the importance of chatting with babies and young children, even before they start talking.
• Suggestions for activities and topics to discuss during the walk.
• Tips to enhance conversations and interactions with children aged 0-5.

The cards are also available for download on the National Literacy Trust’s website, allowing families to use them anytime, anywhere.

Why ‘Walk & Talk’?

Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for children and families, highlighted the benefits of these events, emphasising the importance of providing young children with ample opportunities to engage in conversations with family members. “For younger children, it is especially important to have lots of opportunities to engage with their mums, dads, brothers, and sisters to support the development of their language skills,” she said.

Jo Knuckey, Manager for the National Literacy Trust in Cornwall, also expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. “We believe that day-to-day activities can provide opportunities for families to boost their children’s early language and communication skills,” Jo said, pointing out that the walks offer natural opportunities for children to learn new words and develop literacy skills.

Upcoming ‘Walk & Talk’ Events

Families interested in participating can find a variety of scheduled walks across Cornwall. Here are some of the upcoming dates and locations:

• Wednesday 14th August 10-11am – Wadebridge Family Hub
• Wednesday 14th August 2-3pm – Camborne Family Hub
• Thursday 15th August 9.30–11.30am – Hayle Family Hub
• Monday 19th August 10-11am – Bodmin Family Hub
• Wednesday 21st August – Penzance Family Hub
• Thursday 22nd August 1pm-2pm – The Park, Falmouth
• Thursday 22nd August 9.30-11.30am – Hayle Family Hub
• Wednesday 28th August – Penzance Family Hub
• Thursday 29th August 11.30am-12.30pm – Liskeard Library
• Thursday 29th August 10-11am – St Austell Library
• Thursday 29th August 9.30-11.30am – Hayle Family Hub

Families can simply choose a walk that fits their schedule, turn up at the starting point, and enjoy a morning or afternoon of connection and exploration.

For more information on these events and how to get involved, families can visit the Active Cornwall website.