Southern Rail and Mind to host a hike at Box Hill encouraging Brits to escape into the Surrey countryside

One in four people will experience a mental health problem each year*, and new research from the UK’s largest train company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), shows that almost 80% (79%) of Brits believe taking a walk is good for their mental health. Southern Rail, which is operated by GTR and whose services cover the area between central London and the south coast, is supporting this by hosting its first hike in partnership with the mental health charity Mind.

Walking groups like Common Ground and Gorp Girls have massively risen in popularity, with the search for ‘local walking groups’ rising 300%.** Both Common Ground and Gorp Girls are no stranger to this - already engaging with thousands of Gen Z and Millennials across the country.

Seven in 10 Brits (71%) believe that joining a walking group can help reduce feelings of loneliness, therefore this new data from the train company shows walking groups could help contribute to improvements in mental health. Two-thirds of Brits (66%) also believe a short walk can clear their heads.

Angie Doll, Chief Executive Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, says: “We are excited to host our first Rail Trail hike at Box Hill with Mind. At a time when more people than ever are experiencing mental health problems, we want to shine a light on the importance of clearing your mind and resetting in nature via our rail network. Traveling via train and hiking is a great way to explore new parts of the country and improve wellbeing. Almost 80% of Brits believe that taking a walk is good for their mental health, and walking groups offer the perfect opportunity for people to form new connections and get into the great outdoors.”

Over 40% of Brits felt that spending time in nature can help improve their mood, and almost half (43%) would consider joining a walking group. Brits see the top three benefits to joining a walking group as: getting fresh air (52%), meeting new people (47%), and being in nature (45%) - therefore joining this Southern Rail and Mind hike is the perfect way to embrace all of this.

Hannah da Silva, Founder of Gorp Girls, explains that: “We’ve seen the real-life benefits of hosting walking groups, with our walks attracting over 500 girls last year. What Gorp Girls stands for resonates entirely with Southern Rail’s research, where over half (53%) of women agree that it’s easier to have a conversation about mental health while out in nature.”

Joel Moore, Co-Founder of Common Ground, says: “At Common Ground, we aim to create an open environment where attendees can meet like-minded individuals and decompress from their busy lives. It’s fascinating to know that almost 60% of Brits feel more connected to people while walking. This is something Common Ground truly embraces, and we’re excited to bring this to life in March!”

Andrew Berrie, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Mind, says: “We know that physical activity can have a positive impact on our mental health, which is why we’re thrilled to be hosting this Rail Trail Hike with GTR. A big thank you to Gorp Girls and Common Ground for making this event possible, and creating space for connection and conversation”

All those interested in attending the Box Hill hike in collaboration with Gorp Girls and Common Ground can sign up via the Eventbrite link here. The cost of train tickets are covered by Southern Rail from London Victoria, with all issued on a first come first serve basis. The hike is focused on people having a safe space to connect with others and have conversations around mental health. If desired, donations to Mind can be made via Mind’s website.