Merton Can
Let’s make 2022 the year that we are more active, together!
See how many activities you can tick off during 2022.
Try 22 in 2022
There are a range of opportunities to be more active, including active travel, sport and fun activities and games. There are five resources with ideas for adults and older adults, adults, babies and toddlers, children and young people and pregnant women. Why not get all the family involved. All of the information contained in the documents below can be found further down this page.
- Try 22 in 2022 for adults and older adults
- Try 22 in 2022 for adults
- Try 22 in 2022 for babies and toddlers
- Try 22 in 2022 for children and young people
- Try 22 in 2022 for pregnant women
You can also view the lists of activities below.
Don't forget to share your photos on social media using the hashtag #MertonCan and if you think of other ways of being active, let us know!
To get in touch with us contact public.health@merton.gov.uk
| Adults and older adults | Adults | Children and young people | Babies and Toddlers | Pregnant Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Take a stroll with a walking club, such as Wimbledon Walking Club or Walk and Talk 2. Take a football fitness session with AFC Wimbledon 3. Improve your strength and balance by taking a tai chi class 4. Try an aqua aerobics class with Age UK Merton 5. Go wildlife spotting by taking a walk around Morden Hall Park 6. When taking public transport, get off a stop early and walk a little bit further 7. Take a six week exercise pledge with Merton Moves 8. Walk the Merton Mile 9. Try the Couch to 5k app 10. Check out watersports activities in Wimbledon Park 11. Go swimming at a Merton leisure centre 12. Download the Happy and Active brochure and get active 13. After periods of sitting down at home, be active around the house 14. Try Age UK Merton’s Zumba class and feel the beat 15. Join in with Merton and Morden Guild’s seated exercise class 16. Check out NHS online chair-based pilates videos from the comfort of your home 17. Go play tennis with friends at your local court 18. Try out the Wimbledon Common Parkrun 19. Play at your nearest public table tennis table in Merton 20. Join Attic Theatre’s dancing group 21. Move your feet with dance classes at Merton and Morden Guild 22. Join a gardening club through Sustainable Merton |
1. Walk or cycle for 1 week instead of using the car 2. Take an early morning swim at a Merton Leisure Centre 3. Walk in the Rose Garden at Morden Hall Park 4. Use the outdoor gym at your local park 5. Take part in one of Merton’s three Trim trails to help develop balance, strength and coordination 6. Set a time for a 5k Parkrun 7. Join Walk4Life walk at one of the walking routes 8. Workout Wednesday virtual series at AFC Wimbledon 9. Walk the Merton Mile at Figges Marsh with friends 10. Download the Couch to 5k app 11. Download the Active 10 app & track your progress 12. Go for a bike ride along the Wandle Trail 13. Take part in walking football at AFC Wimbledon 14. Challenge a friend to a game of squash at a Merton Leisure Centre 15. Play basketball in one of Merton’s basketball courts 16. Follow the Wimbledon Way walking route 17. Learn new dance moves by joining a class or learning on YouTube 18. 18 Join a gardening club or volunteer with Sustainable Merton 19. Walk twice around the outfield at Mitcham Cricket Club, opposite Vestry Hall 20. Explore what activities Wimbledon Guild have to offer 21. Try The Body Coach Joe Wicks workouts 22. Your favourite activity! |
1. Learn to ride a bike with cycle training 2. Go for a swim during family time at a Merton Leisure Centre 3. Use a Kayak at Wimbledon Water Sports Centre 4. Walk, cycle or scoot on the school run 5. Try a new playground in Merton - there are over 35 to test out! 6. Get inspired by watching AFC Wimbledon 7. See how many skips you can do without stopping! 8. Play hopscotch 9. Fly a kite in one of the parks. Top tip: Morden Park has a gentle hill to run down! 10. Register to get updates on fun games with Healthier Families10 11. Use the outdoor gym at your local park (young people) 12. Join your parent or carer at a Parkrun 5K event (over 4’s only) 13. Explore Cannizaro park and feed the ducks (leftover peas, sweetcorn or lettuce are great. Leave the bread at home) 14. Join Beavers, Cubs or Scouts 15. Get your heart pumping and try an active fitness class at Wimbledon Leisure Centre & Spa 16. 1Play a round of crazy golf at Wimbledon Park 17. Play outdoor table tennis in a Merton Park 18. Go on a family adventure walk through the woods and take notice of the seasonal changes 19. Find your way around Merton using a map 20. Dance to music anywhere 21. Go ice skating 22. Your favourite activity! |
1. Go for a swim during family time at a Merton Leisure Centre 2. Explore a new playground in Merton – there are over 35 to test out! 3. Go outside and play in the mud 4. Teach your toddler how to play catch 5. Visit a local playgroup 6. Play Pooh sticks in the river Wandle 7. Go outside and make friends with a friendly insect 8. Attend the Early Learning Together Baby programme, for first time parents, at your local children’s centre 9. Fly a kite in one of the parks. Top tip: Wimbledon Common can be windy! 10. Spot a fish somewhere along the river Wandle 11. Take your toddler on a nature adventure through the woods and take notice of the seasonal changes 12. Go paddling in a splash park in the summer 13. Pop on your wellies and splash in some muddy puddles with your toddler 14. Encourage your toddler to hop on one leg 15. Help your toddler climb a small tree stump 16. Play games of pushing and pulling toys with your baby 17. Let your toddler walk with you rather than using the buggy 18. Let your toddler help unpack the shopping or sort the washing 19. Sing and dance to a new song with your toddler 20. Play in the garden 21. Climb the jungle gym in the park 22. Your favourite activity! |
1. Go swimming at a Merton leisure centre 2. Join a pregnancy class at Wimbledon Methodist Church 3. Take a stroll with a walking club, such as Wimbledon Walking Club or Walk and Talk 4. Practice some pelvic floor muscle exercises 5. Join in with Merton and Morden Guild’s seated exercise class 6. Join a gardening club through Sustainable Merton 7. Check out NHS chair-based Pilates videos from the comfort of your home 8. Attend a YogaBirth pregnancy class 9. Use the exercise bike at your local gym 10. After periods of sitting down at home, be active around the house 11. Improve your strength and balance by taking a tai chi class 12. Take part in some low-impact aerobic classes 13. Take part in aqua-aerobic classes 14. Follow the Wimbledon Way walking route 15. Use the cross trainer at your local gym 16. Explore what activities Wimbledon Guild have to offer 17. When taking public transport, get off a stop early and walk a little bit further 18. Learn a new dance move by joining a class or learning on YouTube 19. Walk the Merton Mile at Figges Marsh with friends 20. Join a Pilates class for pregnancy 21. Stay active at home with online exercise classes for pregnant wo 22. Your favourite activity! |
About #MertonCan
#MertonCan is a campaign to encourage everyone in Merton to be more physically active. It will promote the benefits of moving more and sitting less and will encourage every day activity, promote our great services and community assets e.g. the parks and open spaces that we have in Merton.
Led by Merton Council, #MertonCan is working with a lot of local organisations and services and would encourage anyone who would like to promote sport and physical activity to get involved in the campaign.
What #MertonCan is trying to achieve
We want everyone in Merton to understand and realise the benefits associated with leading an active lifestyle, which includes better mental health and physical health but we also want to promote the social benefits of being physically active by connecting people; through joining regular walking group, joining a sports club or playing in the park. Being physically active is also fun and can help us meet new friends and have new experiences.
We know that 75% of Merton's population are physically active for more than 30 minutes per week but that means that there are still almost 1 in 4 people in Merton that aren't and are therefore physically inactive (Active Lives Survey November 2019 - November 2020, Sport England). We also know the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted people’s physical activity levels. Being active has benefits for everyone, young or old, it's never too early or late to start getting the benefits of an active lifestyle. There is an activity out there for everyone; and #MertonCan will help you find it.
How #MertonCan will do this
#MertonCan will promote a range of opportunities to be active across in Merton, it will focus on a key theme or area and will change on a regular basis.
We also want to get local people to inspire others and celebrate what is going on in Merton by sharing any photos of yourself, your friends or family being active in Merton. Either share on social media using the #MertonCan or send them to public.health@merton.gov.uk and we will share them for you.