A PROGRAMME of health walks and activities will take place at Wyre Forest Visitor Centre throughout January.

On Sundays and Tuesdays, visitors to the centre, at Callow Hill, will be able to take part in free strolls with a trained leader.

The walks are open to people of all abilities and participants should meet at the centre at 10.30am for an 11am start.

They are designed for people who want to increase their walking fitness, for those who are getting back into walking after illness and for anyone who wants to make friends and does not wish to walk by themselves.

The walks aim to improve fitness and promote a healthier lifestyle and enjoyment from exercise.

Younger visitors can join Forest Friends, which is a term-time weekly club for pre-school age children and their parents or carers.

Each Thursday, from 10am, children can enjoy a different activity including craft workshops, wildlife-themed games or pushchair-friendly walks, which normally last an hour. There is a small fee per child.

Families can also try their hand at several orienteering courses throughout the forest.

There is a choice of three routes - easy, medium and difficult - which enables visitors to pick a course suitable for their fitness levels. This popular family sport involves navigating around a series of checkpoints hidden in the woods and maps are available for a small fee from the visitor centre.

On Saturday, February 4, there will be a Walk in the Woods event and visitors will be able to join a forest ranger for a walk through the forest to look for signs of wildlife. The walk will last around two hours and not cover more than four miles. Participants should meet at 10.30am for an 11am start.

Pre-booking is not required for any of the events. For further information contact the visitor centre on 01299 266929 or visit the website at www.wyreforest.net