Regular Walks Research Articles

Louis Henry, the Wallaby Club and Melbourne’s Federal Elite

Founded in 1894, the Wallaby Club is Australia’s oldest walking club. In its heyday, between 1901 and 1927 when Melbourne was the federal capital, it attracted some of the nation’s leading citizens, including three prime ministers, four generals, two High Court judges, as well as several senior public servants and professors. Born amidst the ruins of ‘Marvellous Melbourne’, the club answered a longing among younger members of the city’s professional elite for recreation and renewal through regular walks in the Australian bush. This article traces the career of the club’s founder, the German-educated Jewish doctor Louis Henry, and examines the culture of the club, including its masculine ethos, and its influence on the formation of a self-conscious federal elite.

Supportive Community of Elementary School Children’s for Sports and Physical Activity

The adults can supportive community and physical challenge by providing fun physical challenges that are appropriate for children's abilities, by giving children choices over how they move and play, and by providing opportunities for children to practice self-regulation through physical games an education that is organized with the aim of facilitating the growth and development of children as a whole that emphasizes the development of all aspects of the child's personality. Involve your child in physical activities around the home such as gardening, washing the car or house cleaning. Walk is the short distances instead of taking the car. Encourage and support walking and cycling to school. Take your child for regular walks around the neighborhood. Every child has a number of potentials, whether physical, biological, cognitive, or emotionally social (Desmita, 2009). Early childhood education should provide various activities that can develop various aspects of development including cognitive, language, social, and emotional aspects for development and socialization in children become a very important part in shaping behavior in children. One form of game that can be used to improve the social and emotional skill of early childhood is the traditional game. Students Behaviors that represent children's emotional growth and their ability to successfully navigate their world through interactions with adults and parents since these skills are develop together, this area of development is referred to as social-emotional development. We analyze the mechanics in these games and compare these mechanics against existing videogames to show what makes traditional games unique. Our student’s analysis has helped us to interpret the playability issues that we can observed in our exploratory studies, and informed the design of a new videogame that rural children found to be more intuitive and engaging.

Prediction of walking speed one year following hip fracture based on pre-fracture assessments of mobility and physical activity

BackgroundOlder people with hip fracture are often medically frail, and many do not regain their walking ability and level of physical activity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pre-fracture recalled mobility, fear of falling, physical activity, walking habits and walking speed one year after hip fracture.MethodsThe study had a longitudinal design. Measurements were performed 3–5 days postoperatively (baseline) and at one year after the hip fracture. The measurements at baseline were all subjective outcome measures recalled from pre-fracture: The New Mobility Scale (NMS), the ‘Walking Habits’ questionnaire, The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Scale, Fear of Falling International (FES-I) and demographic variables. At one year 4-meter walking speed, which was a part of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was assessed.ResultsAt baseline 207 participants were included and 151 were assessed after one year. Their age was mean (SD) 82.7 (8.3) years (range 65–99 years). Those with the fastest walking speed at one year had a pre-fracture habit of regular walks with a duration of ≥ 30 min and/or a frequency of regular walks of 5–7 days a week. Age (p =.020), number of comorbidities (p <.001), recalled NMS (p <.001), and recalled UCLA Activity Scale (p =.007) were identified as predictors of walking speed at one year. The total model explained 54% of the variance in walking speed.ConclusionsDuration and frequency of regular walks before the hip fracture play a role in walking speed recovery one year following the fracture. Subjective outcome measures of mobility and physical activity, recalled from pre-fracture can predict walking speed at one year. They are gentle on the old and medically frail patients in the acute phase after hip fracture, as well as clinically less time consuming.

A volunteer-supported walking programme to improve physical function in older people with restricted mobility (the POWER Study): a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundRegular physical activity has multiple health benefits, especially in older people. Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends at least 2.5 h of moderate physical activity per week. The aim of the POWER Study was to investigate whether volunteer-assisted walking improves the physical performance and health of older people.MethodsWe approached people aged 65 years and older with restricted mobility due to physical limitations and asked them to participate in this multicentre randomised controlled trial. The recruitment took place in nursing homes and the community setting. Participants randomly assigned to the intervention group were accompanied by volunteer companions for a 30–50 min walk up to three times a week for 6 months. Participants in the control group received two lectures that included health-related topics. The primary endpoint was physical function as measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at baseline and 6 and 12 months. The secondary and safety endpoints were quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale), cognitive executive function (the Clock Drawing Test), falls, hospitalisations and death.ResultsThe sample comprised 224 participants (79% female). We failed to show superiority of the intervention with regard to physical function (SPPB) or other health outcomes in the intention-to-treat analyses. However, additional exploratory analyses suggest benefits in those who undertook regular walks. The intervention appears to be safe regarding falls.ConclusionsRegular physical activity is essential to preserve function and to improve health and quality of life. Against the background of a smaller-than-planned sample size, resulting in low power, and the interference of the COVID-19 pandemic, we suggest that community based low-threshold interventions deserve further exploration.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (www.germanctr.de), with number DRKS00015188 on 31/08/2018.

Effect of an 18-Month Walking Intervention on the Rest-Activity Rhythm of Older Adults With Mild-Moderate Dementia.

The objective of this 18-month walking intervention was to evaluate the effect on rest-activity rhythm (RAR) for older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia (65.8% female; aged M = 82.4 [SD = 6.5]). The intervention group (n = 44) was intended to walk 30min, five times per week for 18months. The control group (n = 35) received sedentary activities or usual care. RAR was measured at baseline to after 18 months and five times in between actigraphy outcome variables (interdaily stability, intradaily variability, relative amplitude, activity 10 most active hours, and activity 5 least active hours). Hierarchical mixed model analyses revealed no significant intervention effects (with or without baseline confounders as covariate) on RAR. However, participants in the intervention group were able to significantly increase their daily life activity (activity 10 most active hours) from the onset of the preceding measurement, b = 0.10, t(239.32) = 2.36, p = .019. More research is warranted to study the effect of regular walks on older persons with dementia whose RAR is worst at baseline.

Information System Concept for a Sports and Game Mobile Application with Elements of Artificial Motivation to Lead a More Active Lifestyle

The article presents the idea of a sports and gaming mobile application. The proposed concept has a number of indisputable advantages over the analogue products. The main one is the presence of a mechanism of artificial motivation to lead a more active lifestyle. This approach is especially relevant for modern children and teenagers, most of whom prefer virtual entertainment. The analysis of approaches and methods for encouraging and retaining the user of the mobile application was carried out based on the studied literature. The problem of reducing the physical activity of the population is highlighted. Based on the model of additive convolution for the problem of multi-criteria optimization, the feasibility of implementing the system and its superiority over similar software products presented on the market are substantiated. The expected implementation effects of the system are formulated. Mathematical model for substantiation of educational and physical culture and health effects are proposed. Decomposition of the system into subsystems was carried out using Gain-Sarson DFD-notation. The skeleton architecture of the application has been developed and substantiated. The UML activity diagram of the main process of system functioning has been developed. One of the possible options for implementing the system is proposed: the model of the project life cycle is chosen and substantiated, the stages of its implementation are determined, and the list of minimum necessary human resources is assigned. Implementation of the proposed application will have positive sports, health and educational effects. In addition to improving physical fitness, users will increase their awareness of the achievements of world-famous athletes and the sports they represent. The proposed mechanics for a gradual transition from regular walks to runs will minimize the chance of injury. The implementation of the proposed application is the first step for quantitative and qualitative analysis of physical activity of users. On the basis of statistical data, which is going to be collected in the following versions of the system, it is possible to determine to what extent the use of modern technologies and gamification mechanisms can motivate people to a more active lifestyle. The basis for this stage is the model presented in this paper.

Determining factors that maintain physical function or increase frailty using the Kihon checklist among community-dwelling older adults: a six-year longitudinal study in Agano, Japan

BackgroundA significant increase in the older adult population in Japan will significantly increase healthcare costs. This study aimed to examine the risk factors contributing to robustness transitioning to frailty in older residents.MethodsParticipants were aged 70 in 2016 and 76 in 2022. Participants were evaluated using the Kihon Checklist (KCL).ResultsParticipants for this longitudinal study included 444 older persons who completed the KCL surveys in 2016 and 2022. The follow-up rate was 80.6%; therefore, 358 participants were included in the analysis. The median KCL score increased significantly from 2 to 2016 to 3 in 2022 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of robustness significantly decreased from 60.9 to 48.6% (p = 0.042). In a stepwise logistic regression analysis, robustness was independently associated with regular continuous walks for 15 min and a body mass index of above 18.5%. The following variables were associated with the transition to prefrailty: experiencing a fall in the past year and not going out at least once a week. For the transition to frailty, the variables were turned to family or friends for advice, experienced a fall in the past year, and felt helpless in the last two weeks. The independent factor for the transition from prefrailty to frailty was having a BMI of less than 18.5. In contrast, the independent factor for improving from frailty to robustness or prefrailty was going out at least once a week.ConclusionsWe recommend maintaining continuous walking for more than 15 min, maintaining a BMI of at least 18.5, and going out more than once a week to improve being house-bounded and depressive mood, not only to prevent the transition to prefrailty or frailty but also to improve frailty.

Abstract WP65: A Qualitative Exploration Of Stroke Survivors’ Participation In Physical Exercise And Associated Beliefs And Barriers

Introduction: Physical activity is a vital component of post-stroke rehabilitation. However, as survivors’ functional abilities or environmental circumstances may impede their participation in physical activity, this qualitative study aimed to investigate their patterns and perceptions of exercise to identify rehabilitation barriers and improve survivor health outcomes. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with fifty stroke survivors recruited by convenience sampling. Participants were asked about their physical limitations post-stroke, past and present activity levels, beliefs regarding physical activity, and desired rehabilitation support. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Results: Regarding exercise behaviors, the majority of participants took regular walks and only a minority engaged in targeted exercises for arms or legs. Generally, although survivors recognized the value of post-stroke exercise in improving their health, barriers due to physical limitations and a mismatch between community resources and survivor needs led to suboptimal exercise behaviors. Most participants did not have residential elevators and some reported inconvenience in leaving their homes. Among those with relatively serious physical restrictions, fear of adverse incidents such as falls was common and prevented them from attempting exercise both outside and at home. Moreover, among those who could access community exercise facilities, some felt that the provided equipment did not suit their body types and that they would feel unsafe using them. To boost participation and confidence in exercise, home guidance from rehabilitation care providers and the presence of caregivers or volunteers during physical activity were recommended. Conclusions: Sufficient participation in physical exercise remains challenging for stroke survivors due to a variety of physical restrictions and perceived safety concerns. To increase accessibility and encourage more frequent exercise among survivors, it is important to implement home rehabilitation strategies as alternatives to outdoor exercise, and to provide dedicated in-person support to prevent adverse incidents.

Drink the Sea: Twenty Years of Walking and Falling in Beirut

ABSTRACT In this autobiographical essay, I examine the layers of solace and disruption I experienced in 20 years of walking in Beirut, and also falling all over the city. I explore how my regular walks on the sea-front corniche calmed my anxiety and soothed my spirit, while at the same time Beirut’s broken pavements, unlit streets, and exposed manholes skinned, sprained, twisted, and bloodied my body over and over again. As the situation deteriorated episodically through wars, neglect, and corruption, especially after the 4 August 2020 explosion, walking became an act of witnessing; it enabled the curation of a mental-visual archive contrasting my memories of the city with the catalogue of ills it revealed. In a Beirut hit by pandemic, economic crisis, and political deadlock, I eventually restricted my walks to daylight hours, often literally walking in small circles, as the city plunged into darkness and insecurity. Despite my frequent falls, and the dangers of a pedestrian life in Beirut, walking remained a source of great consolation and wonder: a daily ritual of erasing and remaking the city through stories and moments, disappointments and discoveries.

PEDAGOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE USE OF NATURAL MEANS OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENT BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF A SYNERGISTIC APPROACH

The article considers ways to increase the effectiveness of the use of natural remedies. It was found out that it is important to build and implement an individual health program taking into account biological, physiological, psychological, biorhythmological and other factors that affect human life. Revealing the holistic principle of perception of the world and each of its components, synergetics offers a different vision of the mechanisms of the formation of integrity, its transformation and development through the mutual influence and unity of various constituent elements. The state of health is determined by the harmony of the functioning of the organism as a whole, i.e., the coordinated interaction of systems, organs, energy-informational structure, and all cells of the body. The task is to restore balance and harmony using means of influencing both physiological systems and the psyche, which are equally important for maintaining internal harmony and balance between "conflicting", opposing forces: heat-cold, acid-alkali, movement-rest, assimilation-dissimilation, oxygen-carbon dioxide, tension-relaxation, etc. According to the principles of synergism, the main role is not played by medicinal products as such. There are many health factors, since everything that surrounds us affects a person in one way or another, changing the balance in the body, disrupting or restoring harmony. Anything can serve as a medicine: a glass of water or juice, regular walks, a clove of garlic or a decoction of herbs, a change in climate or management of thoughts and emotions, correct posture or the use of water procedures - all these simple components of everyday life can effectively balance various processes in the body and work as medicine. If we look at nature through the eyes of a doctor looking for medicines, we can say that we live in a world of medicines. It has been proven that the synergistic approach opens up new opportunities for preserving or restoring the balance and harmony of the life processes of the human body, and therefore, improving the effectiveness of the health-care process. Practical recommendations on the use of the most important health-improving means are given.

Time change in the distribution of physical activity and its correlates among retired older Swedish adults: a repeated cross-sectional study from a national survey

BackgroundUnderstanding how older adults spend time in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) is crucial to understanding healthy ageing. This study connects 24-h time-use diary records of the daily activities of a sample of Swedish older adults to energy intensities. The aim was to: i) estimate the prevalence of Swedish older adults (aged 65–84 years) who achieved recommended daily levels of physical activity; ii) identify what domains of everyday life contribute to MVPA; and iii) explore socio-demographic factors affecting rates of active living.MethodsWe draw on two Swedish nationally representative samples of time-use diary data from 2000/2001 and 2010/2011. Data covering the duration of all activities performed over two days were combined with activity-intensity information (metabolic equivalent of task [MET] values) to estimate the energy expenditure (MET min) originating from MVPA.ResultsResults indicate that 94.1% of Swedish older adults achieved the WHO-recommended minimum level of daily MVPA in 2010/2011; the share remained unchanged over the period. MVPA performed in natural environments (24.2%), during housework (22.8%), and on everyday walks in one’s local area (18.1%) were dominant domains contributing to energy expenditure. Home maintenance and repairs (8.8%), active transport (9.9%), and physical exercise (8.2%) contributed to a lesser extent. In 2000/2001, total MVPA energy expenditure was associated with gender, housing, living region, and disability; in 2010/2011, except for disability, these associations were no longer significant.ConclusionsThe high proportion of older adults who achieved the recommended level of MVPA, their allocation of MVPA time to diverse domains, and the reduced social distribution over time suggest that elderly people increasingly find their own paths to everyday physical activity. This indicates a need to promote MVPA not only in established ways, such as prescribed training programmes. The importance of active physical activities in natural environments, and of regular walks in the vicinity of home, indicates a need to incorporate healthy ageing considerations in wider urban and regional planning, for example, to increase access to natural environments and urban walkability. Also, older adults’ involvement in household chores, maintenance and repairs, and active transport extends responsibility to new policy areas.

P08-06 MOVEluencer: a project to promote physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural community setting

BackgroundAn appropriate level of Physical Activity (PA) is important for both physical and mental health and has also been suggested as a protective element against COVID-19. However, even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were already a high number of physically inactive people in Austria. Due to ongoing pandemic-related social restrictions, not only a further increase of inactivity is suspected, but also the promotion of PA is currently a major challenge. Therefore, the project “MOVEluencer” which has been running since July 2021, follows a multidimensional PA promotion approach that is less affected by the presence of any social restrictions.MethodsThe project was realized in six rural communities in Styria (a province of Austria), which were selected based on inequality factors related to health and PA. The target groups are physically inactive residents, particularly families and elderly. Overall, the project measures are based on a participatory approach and are implemented in three sections (phase 1 -3).ResultsPhase 1 (July - December 2021) represented an analysis phase in which a photo-challenge was conducted. The aim of the challenge was to identify resources and opportunities for improving active mobility and PA in the communities based on photos taken by residents. Sixty-seven people (43% female) participated in the challenge and submitted a total of 268 photos which were disseminated via the project-specific social media channels. Moreover, in phase 1 working groups represented by members from the project target groups were established. Phase 2 is currently being implemented (since January 2022). One measure is to recruit and train walking buddies to provide regular walks and simple strength exercises along the walking-way. A further measure represents outdoor-educational events, following an interactive learning approach to improve the populations awareness of active mobility and PA in general. During these events, simple tests that assess components of health-related fitness are also offered. Phase 3 will implement target group-specific PA programs currently being developed in the working groups.ConclusionPromotion of PA remains significant, especially during a pandemic and in rural communities, as awareness of the benefits of PA in this setting is still low.

A personalized approach to the management of patients with chronic nonspecific back pain

Back pain is one of the most common causes of a doctor visit and occupy the first place among all non-infectious diseases in terms of the number of years of life, lost due to persistent deterioration in health. Nonspecific (musculoskeletal) pain represents the most common cause of pain and can be caused by the intervertebral disc extrusion, the lesion of the facet joints, the sacroiliac joints pain (SJP), the myofascial syndrome. A comprehensive (interdisciplinary) approach to the treatment of chronic back pain is aimed not only at reducing pain, but also at increasing physical, social and domestic activity, improving the emotional state, and developing effective stereotypes of behavior. The personalized approach is based on the patient clarifying both anatomical causes of pain and social and psychological, including erroneous ideas about the causes of back pain and its forecast, depression, increased anxiety and insomnia. Kinesitherapy represents the most effective direction when conducting patients with chronic back pain and should be combined with avoiding excessive static and physical exertion. In addition to therapeutic exercises, regular walks are of great importance, the intensity and volume of which can gradually increase. Psychological methods of therapy, mainly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are effective for chronic nonspecific back pain, they also use in the presence of emotional disorders and insomnia. In case of damage to the facet joints, the SJP, combined osteoarthritis of the knee and hip joints for chronic back pain as additional therapy, combined drugs of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate are used. Unfortunately, in our country, a personalized approach is rarely used, including the CBT, but its use can help many patients with chronic back pain.

What to Discuss?—A Blueprint Topic Model for Health Coaching Dialogues With Conversational Agents

Conversational agents (CAs) are often included as virtual coaches in eHealth applications. Tailoring conversations with these coaches to the individual user can increase the effectiveness of the coaching. An improvement for this tailoring process could be to (automatically) tailor the conversation at the topic level. In this article, we describe the design and evaluation of a blueprint topic model for use in the implementation of such topic selection. First, we constructed a topic model by extracting actions from the literature that a CA as coach could perform. We divided these actions in groups and labeled them with topics. We included literature from the behavioral psychology, relational agents and persuasive technology domains. Second, we evaluated this topic model through an online closed card sort study with health coaching experts. The constructed topic model contains 30 topics and 115 actions. Overall, the sorting of actions into topics was validated by the 11 experts participating in the card sort. Cards with actions that were sorted incorrectly mostly missed an immediacy indicator in their description (e.g., the difference between “you could plan regular walks” as opposed to “let’s plan a walk”) and/or were based on behavior change techniques that were difficult to translate to a conversation. The blueprint topic model presented in this article is an important step towards more intelligent virtual coaches. Future research should focus on the implementation of automatic topic selection. Furthermore, tailoring of coaching dialogues with CAs in multiple steps could be further investigated, for example, from the technical or user interaction perspective.

Activity Space and Functional Outcomes in Frail Older Persons Using GPS analysis

With increasing age, walking becomes a main functional ability to participate in activities of daily living and supports independence and mobility. Frailty in older, multimorbid patients has a negative impact on physical activity and may reduce the personal activity space (AS). In this pilot study, GPS data were used to identify walking tracks to define individual AS and to compare functional performance in frail older persons. GPS data of 20 community-dwelling adults (84.5(±5.2)years, 85% women, mean frailty phenotype 1.9 (70% ≥2)points) were analyzed using a customized software to assess individual AS over a ten-months period. A geriatric home assessment including Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait speed (GS) and Timed-up-and-Go (TUG) was conducted monthly. GPS analysis revealed three different walking types presenting AS similarities: Type A walkers prefer smaller short walks nearby the home while Type B can be characterized by taking larger regular walks. Type C presents the widest AS using different transportation modes, but only a moderate number of walks. Mean group difference in functional performance of Type A walkers showed significantly reduced GS (0.45(±0.1)m/s), TUG (23.4s(±4.9)) and SPPB scores (3.8(±0.8) points; p<0.05) compared to Type C (0.82(±0.1)m/s (GS); 13.2(±1.4)s (TUG); 7.0(±1.3) points (SPPB)). Functional performance of Type B walkers (0.63(±0.2)m/s (GS); 17.1(±4.4)s (TUG); 6.5(±2.4)points (SPPB)) revealed significantly higher SPPB scores compared to Type A (p<0.05). Walks and individual AS can be mapped via GPS under everyday conditions. High heterogeneity within frail older people was observed. Persons with lower functional performance showed a reduced AS and physical activity.

Stress, distress, its types and correction

Chronic and acute, physiological, psychological and informational stress are considered. It is noted that stress is a protective reaction of the body in response to a very strong emotional, physical or psychological action from the outside. Instead, distress develops as a result of: prolonged inability to meet their physiological needs, unpleasant, sad and threatening changes in life, unusual, inappropriate living conditions, body damage, illness, injury, prolonged pain or negative emotions.&#x0D; The best way to deal with stress is to prevent it: regular walks in the fresh air, sports, adequate sleep and more. ADAPTOL® anxiolytic helps to curb excessive anxiety and irritability, to restore strength after the transferred stress.

Solidarity Through Routine: Relations and rhythms of regular lockdown walks

Solidarity Through Routine: Relations and rhythms of regular lockdown walks

BeatWalk: Personalized Music-Based Gait Rehabilitation in Parkinson's Disease.

Taking regular walks when living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) has beneficial effects on movement and quality of life. Yet, patients usually show reduced physical activity compared to healthy older adults. Using auditory stimulation such as music can facilitate walking but patients vary significantly in their response. An individualized approach adapting musical tempo to patients’ gait cadence, and capitalizing on these individual differences, is likely to provide a rewarding experience, increasing motivation for walk-in PD. We aim to evaluate the observance, safety, tolerance, usability, and enjoyment of a new smartphone application. It was coupled with wearable sensors (BeatWalk) and delivered individualized musical stimulation for gait auto-rehabilitation at home. Forty-five patients with PD underwent a 1-month, outdoor, uncontrolled gait rehabilitation program, using the BeatWalk application (30 min/day, 5 days/week). The music tempo was being aligned in real-time to patients’ gait cadence in a way that could foster an increase up to +10% of their spontaneous cadence. Open-label evaluation was based on BeatWalk use measures, questionnaires, and a six-minute walk test. Patients used the application 78.8% (±28.2) of the prescribed duration and enjoyed it throughout the program. The application was considered “easy to use” by 75% of the patients. Pain, fatigue, and falls did not increase. Fear of falling decreased and quality of life improved. After the program, patients improved their gait parameters in the six-minute walk test without musical stimulation. BeatWalk is an easy to use, safe, and enjoyable musical application for individualized gait rehabilitation in PD. It increases “walk for exercise” duration thanks to high observance.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02647242.

A Walk on the Wild Side: Steps towards an ecological arts pedagogy

between home and school walking a way to learning life through the city. (David Haley) This article takes the reader for a stroll through a programme of ecological arts-led, performance-based research. The style is more poetic than scientific, although much ecological science is embedded within the art form. Indeed, Charles Darwin was known for his regular walks, as time and space for his reflections on evolution and his grandfather Erasmus Darwin was noted for the poetic form of his scientific treatises. Here also, the author breaks with academic convention to engage with walking and research as creative activities to deal with ecological issues. Of course, other artists like Richard Long and Hamish Fulton have walked as part of their practice, and there are a growing number of artists who consider walking as practice-as-research. In this article, the focus is specifically on walking as a creative form of inquiry, through community participation within urban contexts to create a critical dialogue focused on ecology in action.

Visiting, attending and receiving: Making kin with local woods

In an endeavour to build intimacy with a section of woods as can only be done through visceral and embodied experience, an ongoing drawing project was embarked upon with the forest as co-author. In a practice of sympoesis with the earth, small drawings of selected niches in an unprotected section of established forest bordering a suburban neighbourhood were done on regular and frequent walks through changing seasons. Upon completion, each drawing was hidden or buried at the site, to be retrieved on a subsequent visit. The aim is to inhabit and bond with this particular wild place through art-based dialogue, and through finding and returning to very specific places via animistic sensing and with tacit knowledge rather than the customary reliance on human-made indexical technologies. In this regard, the trees and plants play an active and sometimes storied role as participants in the creative exchange.