Improving our local environment can have a direct benefit to our health – so what better way to start a new regime than on this year’s World Environment Day on Friday 5th June 2009?

This year’s theme for World Environment Day (WED) is Your Planet Needs You! – and we can all do our part to protect the planet by using less and acting more.

Dr Peter Bradley, director of public health for NHS Suffolk and Suffolk County Council, says: “Suffolk has a fantastic natural environment where walking, cycling, or even running is pleasant, possible and safe.”

“One of the key messages we’re putting across with the 20-year Healthy Ambitions Suffolk initiative is the value in making small changes in our everyday lives and in our surroundings – that can really add up and make a big difference to how we live.

“For example, planting a tree and tending a garden or allotment is great exercise whatever your age – and even better if you can grow your own vegetables and reduce your carbon footprint.”

Adults should do a minimum of 30 minutes moderate-intensity physical activity, at least five days a week. For children and young people the target is at least 60 minutes a day.

Walking 10,000 steps a day will significantly improve your health, build stamina, burn excess calories and give you a healthier heart – and you’ll burn off 500 calories!

– Hop on your bike for Tour de Route 51
Healthy Ambitions Suffolk partner organisation Suffolk County Council, in association with Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, is promoting the opening of the new National Cycle Route 51 from 5 to 12 June. The event will have various activities planned for each day of the week along the route – to encourage people throughout Suffolk to use these journeys to work, school, shopping trips and leisure. Contact Elspeth Gibson on 07717 302194 or Ray Wand on 07740 656228 for more information.

– Enter the Healthy Ambitions Suffolk awards scheme
You, your group or your organisation could be eligible for a Healthy Ambitions Suffolk award. The award scheme offers recognition for your efforts – with awards given to organisations, businesses, clubs, voluntary groups, individuals – in fact, anyone who can demonstrate that what they’re doing will contribute to the aims and goals of Healthy Ambitions Suffolk. Awards are valid for two years.

– Log on for ideas and inspiration
The new Healthy Ambitions Suffolk families microsite is updated all the time with some great ideas to get out and about with your family this summer – such as the Dunwich Forest cycle treasure hunt, Dance East summer workshops – and you can find sports clubs near you at www.suffolksport.com

– Get ‘Fit for Work’
For businesses, the Healthy Ambitions Suffolk – business award scheme recognises and rewards organisations that are working actively to improve the health of their employees, and supports those that are aspiring to do so. The ‘Fit for Work’ scheme is now live across Suffolk, and is a comprehensive scheme covering all aspects of the physical activity requirement. So if you’re going for a Healthy Ambitions Suffolk award, this scheme is a really helpful tool to get you started when it comes to improving physical activity in and out of the workplace – getting your business well on its way to winning a Healthy Ambitions Suffolk workplace award.

The Healthy Ambitions Suffolk strategy aims to make Suffolk the healthiest county in England by 2028 by cutting the number of preventable deaths and helping people to live a healthier lifestyle. Currently it has three main strands – children and young people, businesses and older people. More strands will be added in the future.

A wide range of partner organisations are working together on the initiative, which is driven by Suffolk Strategic Partnership. More information is available at www.healthyambitionssuffolk.nhs.uk