Heart and Soul Wellbeing Trail

The Heart & Soul programme began in 2020, see Archive. In partnership with Waymarking and MCRactive, Heart & Soul Community Action Team developed and launched the Heart & Soul Wellbeing Trail in Woodhouse Park, Manchester in 2022. This urban walking trail links community spaces and facilities, parks and woodlands across Woodhouse Park. It is 8km (5 mile) long.

The trail was born out of the team’s Vision for a Healthier Woodhouse Park (a neighbourhood in Wythenshawe, Manchester), which was c-created in 2021 (see Archive).

 

Waymarking has guided team members to devise the trail, check for issues on the route, create a photo guide, name the trail and begin to hold guided walks introducing community members and groups to the route. Waymarking designed and produced the trail’s first A3 folded printed map.

 

In 2023 the team completed a three year action plan to further enhance and develop the trail, aiming to design and install trail markers, information panels, online mapping, support groups to take ‘ownership’ of different parts of the trail’ and engage many more local residents in using the trail through a programme of activities. In 2025, team members have installed the first set of waymarkers on part of the route.

​

Image credit: Sarah Spanton