A mum of two under-fives has started an all outdoor educational walking group that invites parents and grandparents to bring along their little ones to experience the wonders of nature in Perthshire.
Each week Abby Stevenson’s Walk and Roll Babies visits a different location, checking out paths all over Perth and Kinross.
This week they are off to Scone recreational park and Loch Leven.
The qualified personal trainer used to live in Perthshire but then moved to Fife.
When she was looking for things to do with her two tinies, she met a woman offering free walks for families wanting to explore the Fife coast.
Abby realised there was nothing like this for toddlers and babies happening regularly in Perthshire, so she researched what qualifications she’d need and returning to familiar places, started her own group on Facebook.
“It’s not just for mums, single dads or stay-at-home dads can come along to something or grandparents that are baby-sitting,” she explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.
“We walk to the speed of the slowest member, snacks are encouraged and whatever the weather, we are out.
“My mother helps out a lot. She’s a Scout leader and a nurse in the maternity unit in Kirkcaldy. She sticks close to the pregnant ladies that have come along.”
Walk and Roll doesn’t charge people to take part but donations are welcome to help Abby ensure there’s free homemade soup, hot juice and tea to share. Everything is gluten/nut/dairy free so everyone can enjoy.
And she’s tuned into the exciting world of nature, a big interest for small folk.
“Children introduced to nature at a young age, learn to respect the world more and also have a deeper understanding of how important the ecosystem is,” she added.
“On the walks we teach about plant life and wild animals and then we sit and do a little bit of craft. Sometimes we do get carried away and simply walk, other times we barely take any steps and end up spending the session in one spot.
“It is all depending on how the little ones are that day.”
Walk and Roll Babies locations, always meeting at 10.30am, are announced monthly to help mums arrange to car share of find help to get to the meeting points.
Last week the group visited Binn Hill near Perth on Wednesday - joined by PA photographer Richard Wilkins - and on Thursday they were enjoying the sunshine at Comrie Croft.
Some places on the list for February include the Quarry Mill path in Perth and exploring Benny Beg in Crieff.
The group can be contacted on 07591 830743 or pt13fitness@hotmail.com and walking destinations for January and February can be seen on Facebook.
