HEALTH  PROJECT

Project Outline The project is a partnership initiative between the Forestry Commission, Gateshead Primary Care Trust (P.C.T.), Derwentside P.C.T. and the Friends of Chopwell Wood.  The project is an initial pilot to identify the potential for woodlands to contribute to the government’s health agenda.  Forestry Commission England and the partners require a well evaluated and monitored pilot project to help develop the evidence base to support 2004 and future Treasury spending review bids.  Chopwell Wood has been selected as the pilot site because it is in a Health Action Zone with well-documented needs for health improvement, and already has an established voluntary community group.    Nicholas Powell  -  Project Health Development Worker

Rationale

Physical inactivity is a serious and increasing public health issue.  Strong scientific evidence however confirms that there are potential health benefits from being active including lowering the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, certain types of cancer and improvements in psychological well-being.                                                                                                                      

Deaths from coronary heart disease in Gateshead from 1996 were 26% above the national average for men and 36% above for women.  Deaths from strokes are 20% above the national average.  38% of men and 26% of women were calculated as being overweight, a further 12% of men and 13% of women were classified as obese.  Excess weight peaks between the ages 55-64 years; men 63% and women 55%, government figures state that 16% of 2-15 year olds are classified as obese.  Empirical evidence suggests that within Gateshead 23% of men and 27% of women indicate the presence of possible mental ill health.  Further to this women aged between 16 and 74 years are more likely than men of the same age to have possible mental ill health.

Public health data (1999) indicates that the health status in Derwentside corresponds with the priorities identified in Our Healthier Nation (the government wide public health strategy for England).  Significant levels of coronary heart disease and stroke, high rates of malignant cancer in men, high standard mortality ratio of accidents and a score of 121 on the York psychiatric index compared to a national average of 100 are all features of the area. The County Durham and Darlington Health Improvement Programme (2004-2005) notes that: 

• Overall, the health of local people is less good than that experienced by people in more affluent parts of the country
• Within our communities, there is considerable variation in health, most conspicuous in ex-coalfield areas - in which Derwentside is included
• All parts of County Durham, including the more affluent areas suffer inequality and have groups that experience poorer health
• Some remote rural areas suffer hidden deprivation in the form of low income, poor psychological and social aspects of health and access to services
• While ethnic minorities comprise only a small part of our population, there is evidence to that these communities suffer poorer health - this group includes travellers

The DETR index (Deprivation of Environment Transport and the Regions) of multiple deprivation (2000) ranks Derwentside as one of the most deprived areas in the country with 22 out of 23 wards ranked as above average in terms of severity of deprivation. Seven wards are among the worst 10% in the country and a further 12 fall into the worst 30% in the country. 

The HIMP highlights that health inequalities represent a major challenge and that the main risk for health equality targets contained in the NHS Plan is a lack of recognition that success is dependent on a wide partnership working both within and beyond the NHS. It is hoped that this unique partnership in relation to this project, will go some way to help address the major challenges for both Gateshead and Derwentside areas. It is hoped that this project will serve as a beacon for partnership between voluntary and statutory organisations in their efforts to address health inequalities. 

 Project Aim

The aim of the project is to improve health within the local community.  The project will strive to achieve this by creating links with the local health service and health promotion providers to highlight and explore the value of the woodlands for health by building an evidence base in relation to woodlands and health:

1. GOAL (Gateshead's Opportunities for Active Lifestyles) exercise referral scheme will have specific focus upon recruitment of participants from the Outer West area of Gateshead:

Chopwell Surgery
Rowlands Gill Surgery
High Spen Surgery

2. Organised structured school visits for five local primary schools will take place. Pupils and staff will be offered access to an activity programme which will be developed to address health and inequalities issues as explained above and also reflect and support the aims and objectives of Co. Durham and Darlington Healthy School Standard (CDDHSS). The criteria, which inform the standard, will inform the programme of activity and help school with their CDDHSS action planning. The following schools are in agreement to be involved in the project:

      Bishop Ian Ramsey Medomsley Church of England Primary
                                    Burnopfield Primary
                                    Collierley Primary
                                    Ebchester Church of England Primary
                                    St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary

The programme will adopt a whole approach in relation to raising awareness with pupils and staff around key areas that impact on health. The principle underpinning the work will be the objective to reduce health inequalities and promote healthy choices for both pupils and staff and to use evidence from evaluation to promote the advantages of woodland in relation to health, influencing both local and national policy and practice

The programme will be developed to include activities around physical activity, emotional health and well being, 5-a-Day and will encourage healthy attitudes around self, others and the environment through inclusion of forest education and environmental awareness activity.

The project will aim to go some way to raise self-esteem and ultimately help pupils to accrue ‘health capital’ in early life, as it is health at the very beginning, which is the foundation for health throughout life.

Benefits of Physical Activity

Government guidelines state a “generalised figure” that individuals should aim to participate within 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 times per week in order to experience the associated benefits. 

Involvement in activities within a natural setting can extend a positive influence on the physical and mental health of human beings in increasingly urbanised societies 

The benefits of regular participation in moderate physical activity include: 

• Improved associated risk factors with cardio vascular disease: raised blood pressure, adverse blood lipid profile and insulin resistance.
• Reduce the risk of strokes (highly active people have a 27% lower chance of stroke incidence or mortality than less active people).
• Reducing coronary disease by influencing such factors as obesity, hypertension and cholesterol level.
• Maintain or improve muscular strength and tone, important for posture and joint stability.
• Enhanced mental functioning, including increased self-esteem and reduced stress levels.
• Increased or improved socialisation.

Project Objectives
 

• Develop the potential and raise the awareness of woodlands, in particular Chopwell Wood as a resource for improving the health and well being of local communities.
• To develop and pilot techniques and practises for improving the health and well being of local communities, that have the potential for being extended beyond the initial pilot period and or being adopted in other parts of the region country.
• Publicise the project throughout its operation, from an event to promote the launch through the dissemination of the project findings.
• Produce a final evaluation report summarising the outputs and findings of the Chopwell Wood Health Project.

Evaluation and Monitoring

The effectiveness of the Chopwell Wood Health Pilot Project is to be monitored and reviewed by the Primary Care Development Centre of Northumbria University.  Analysis of baseline data and data collected throughout the duration of the project will aid in the formulation of conclusions addressing the impact of the project upon the health of the local community.
Evaluation Report now available - go to  www.forestresearch.gov.uk/chopwellhealth

Latest News

A programme of activities has now been set up as follows:

Tai Chi Sessions
Every Tuesday at 12.15 pm  -  Chopwell Community Centre

Cycle Rides
First & Third Tuesday each month at 6 pm  -  Main Car Park, Chopwell Wood
Second & Fourth Tuesday each month at 6 pm  -  Gateshead Stadium
Every Wednesday at 1.30 pm  -  Car Park, Winlaton Mill (Cycle along Derwent Walk)
Every Saturday at 10.30 am  -  Car Park, Winlaton Mill
Cycling equipment is provided, but booking is essential.  Ring Steve on 07833 573191

Guided Walks
Day and times are under review.  No further walks have been organised due to lack of sufficiently trained volunteer leaders.  Some walks have been organised by Gateshead Council and Age Concern, please contact these organisations for further details.

Tai Chi and Cycle Rides are charged at £1.50 per session.
Walks are free of charge.

Contact  Friends of Chopwell Wood for further information

Name	Organisation	Address	E-Mail	Tel
Kim McGarry	Derwentside  PCT	John Snow House University of Durham Science Park Durham DH1 3YG	kim.mcgarry@ durhamclspct.nhs.uk	0191 301 1300
Liz Searle	Friends of Chopwell Wood	2 Albert Street Rowlands Gill Tyne and Wear NE39 2JA		01207 542495
Michael Chappel	Gateshead PCT	14 Regent Terrace Gateshead NE8 1LU	michael.chappell@ ghnt.nhs.uk	0191 4789061
Graham Gill	Forestry Commission	Forest District Manager Kielder Forest District Eals Burn Bellingham, Hexham Northumberland NE48 2HP	graham.gill@ forestry.gsi.gov.uk	01434 220242