Bringing the Outdoors In: Creative Indoor Walks in Amber Valley

We’ve recently completed our first block of Indoor Walks in Amber Valley, working in collaboration with Walk Derbyshire and Move More Amber Valley to bring a creative health approach to a new series of inclusive walking sessions.

Led in part by Beth Sheldon, Creative in Place for Erewash and Amber Valley, the sessions combine gentle movement with storytelling, sensory activities and creative experiences inspired by the outdoors. The aim is to create a welcoming, supportive space where people can enjoy the benefits of walking and being active, whatever their circumstances.

Designed for people who may not feel confident walking outdoors, find uneven ground challenging, or have access or support needs, the sessions offer an alternative way to get moving. By bringing the outdoors in, we’re creating opportunities to build confidence, make new friendships and enjoy gentle exercise in a relaxed, accessible and no-pressure environment. And, of course, there are refreshments to enjoy along the way!

Getting Lost in the Woods (Without Leaving the Room!)

One of our recent sessions took us on a woodland adventure indoors, bringing nature, creativity and movement together in a different way.

We began by slowing down with a gentle guided imagination exercise, giving everyone a chance to pause, relax and picture themselves in an outdoor setting. From there, we set off on our indoor walk, exploring the space and collecting herbs from different places to create our own sensory pots.

There was plenty of opportunity to get creative as we decorated our pots, taking time to appreciate the different sights, smells and textures of the herbs. These simple activities encouraged us to engage our senses, explore our imaginations and connect with nature in a way that felt comfortable and enjoyable.

Alongside the walking and creative activities, Karen, Community Health and Wellbeing Officer at Amber Valley Borough Council, introduced some chair-based strengthening and stretching exercises. This meant we could explore different ways of moving, supporting strength, mobility and wellbeing while making sure everyone could participate at their own pace.

The sessions are a wonderful example of how creativity and movement can work together to support health and wellbeing. By combining gentle physical activity with opportunities for imagination, sensory exploration and social connection, Indoor Walks offer more than just a chance to exercise. They create space for people to feel comfortable, try something new and enjoy being part of a group.

A Welcoming Space to Move, Create and Connect

We know that traditional walking groups and outdoor activities aren’t accessible or appealing to everyone. Indoor Walks offer a different approach, helping people experience some of the benefits of walking and being active in a supported environment, without the worries that uneven paths, weather or confidence can sometimes bring.

And it seems our participants agree! One person shared their experience with us:

“I didn’t think walking indoors would work, but this was fabulous. I loved it.”

Feedback like this highlights the value of finding new and creative ways to help people get active, connect with others and discover activities they might not have considered before.

A huge thank you to Walk Derbyshire, Move More Amber Valley and everyone involved in making these sessions possible. We’ve loved bringing the outdoors in, getting creative and exploring how small moments of movement and connection can make a real difference.

Interested in joining Indoor Walks in Amber Valley? We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch to find out more about upcoming sessions and how you can get involved: admin@artsderbyshire.org.uk