STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CLOSE TO STAFFORDSHIRE AND KEELE UNIVERSITY. PRICES START FROM £115 (BILLS INCLUDED). FURNISHED, EN-SUITE ROOMS - DELUXE ROOMS AVAILABLE. FREE HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND. VARIED COMMUNAL SPACES - INCLUDING ONSITE GYMS. ONSITE PARKING / PERMITS AVAILABLE.
May is Mental Health Awareness month to help people of all ages understand what mental health is, what we can do to keep our minds well, and how to ask for help to feel better for ourselves or others if it’s needed. Each year, there is a theme.
This year, it is ‘Nature’ and how bringing the natural environment into our lives can help to look after our mental health.
Research has found that taking a short walk has plenty of psychological benefits for students – walking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity.
Stoke-on-Trent is actually one of the greenest cities in the UK with lots of fabulous open green spaces for you to enjoy. We’ve put together a list of a few places you might like to walk in around the city;
Trent and Mersey Canal
The canal runs through Stoke-on-Trent from the Harecastle Tunnel in the north of the city to Barlaston in the south of the city. The whole of the Trent & Mersey Canal is around 93 miles long so you may not wish to do all of it! You can access the canal from the Glebe Street bridge in Stoke – which is just down the road from the Stoke Student Living buildings.
A 45min – 1hr walk would take you to Festival Park Marina or walk a little bit further to a reasonably priced Toby Carvery pub (bookings may apply).
Hanley Park
Hanley Park is close to both the City Centre and the railway station. It’s an historic Victorian Park with fountains, waterways, quiet walks, a bandstand and landscaped gardens. There’s also a little cafe where you can pick up a hot sandwich and watch the lake and birds or just the world going by – definitely somewhere to go on sunny days and to get your daily exercise and blow the cobwebs away.
Hanley Park is in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, within walking distance of Stoke-on-Trent mainline railway station. Bus services 23, 23A every 10 minutes, 25 every 10 minutes.24, 24A every 30 minutes.
Longton Park (Queen’s Park)
Located directly off Trentham Road in Dresden, this park is famous for its trees, horticulture and lakes. This is one of the nicest, landscaped civic parks in England, with ducks, swans and geese to see along with lots of friendly squirrels. There is also a little café at the centre of the park where you can enjoy tea and cake for a very fair price.
Longton Park is a short bus ride from Stoke City Centre via Bus services 23, 23A (every 10 minutes) and is open from 8am until dusk.
Hem Heath Woods Nature Reserve
Hem Heath is a beautiful green oasis! It’s one of the largest woodlands on the edges of Stoke-on-Trent of over 100 acres (that’s about the size of 150 football pitches!) In summer you can enjoy woodland wildflowers, butterflies and birdsong!
When you’ve finished walking in the woods, about quarter of a mile down the road you can find a Hungry Horse pub where you can reward yourself with a nice meal and drink (bookings may apply).
Hem Heath access is located south of the A5035 Trentham-Longton road – just east of the main railway line and adjacent to the electricity sub-station.
Trentham Gardens
Although Trentham Gardens isn’t free it’s well worth a visit. The beautiful estate features an Italian Garden, Lake, Floral Labyrinth, a sculptural wire fairy trail, seasonal boat trips and a shopping village with 50 shops and 14 cafes and restaurants. It is just over two miles round said lake with lots of interest including bird life and the gardens are truly beautiful when the sun is shining.
Situated to the south of Stoke-on-Trent, on the A34 Stoke to Stafford road, the Trentham Estate is approx. 3 miles from junction 15 of the M6.
Bus services: 101 approximately every 20-30 minutes from Hanley bus station.
Student admission (With Student ID) costs £10 and non-members currently have to book entry to adhere to social distancing
More Places to Walk
If you are looking for more walks around Stoke-on-Trent you might find some interesting links on the Walking In England site or more local walks on the Visit Stoke website.
So get yourself out there and enjoy the benefits of some fresh air!
