Getting older doesn’t mean sitting indoors waiting for the next episode of whatever is on Netflix.
That seems to be part of the thinking behind a Tenerife programme that has been getting older residents out into the island’s natural spaces, learning a bit, walking a bit, and hopefully enjoying themselves in the process.
The Tenerife Cabildo has now completed the first phase of its “Elderly and Nature: Experience Trails” programme, which began in July.
A total of 174 people from Santa Cruz and La Laguna took part in four outings across different parts of the island.
More than just a walk
The idea is to encourage active ageing while helping people reconnect with Tenerife’s natural environment.
There is also an educational side to it, with participants learning about biodiversity, native vegetation, forests and the importance of protecting the island’s natural spaces.
Rosa Dávila, president of the Tenerife Cabildo, said the programme helps older people become more involved in protecting the island’s natural heritage.
And that makes sense.
Tenerife has some incredible places on its doorstep, but it’s easy for people, particularly as they get older, to become less active or simply stop exploring them.
Sometimes all that’s needed is a bit of organisation, a safe environment and someone saying, “Right, we’re off out.”
Four routes across the island
The programme ran four field days throughout July.
The first, “The Water Footprint”, took place in La Caldera, La Orotava, on 20 July, with 47 participants taking part in a guided ecological experience.
On 22 July, “The Heartbeat of the Mountain” took a group through Las Lagunetas and La Matanza de Acentejo, where 40 participants learned about local plant life and forest fire prevention.
Then came “Life on Ashes” in Las Calderetas and El Sauzal. This outing focused on how native vegetation recovers after wildfires, with another 47 people taking part.
The final route, “Cloud Forests: Life Reserves”, explored the laurisilva around Cruz del Carmen in La Laguna. Forty participants learned more about this unique ecosystem and the important role it plays in Tenerife’s water cycle.
Staying active and staying connected
The Cabildo says the programme is about more than simply encouraging people to walk.
There is a social side to it too.
Getting outdoors, meeting other people and learning something new can make a real difference, particularly for older people who may otherwise spend a lot of time alone.
Specialised staff and safety protocols were also in place to make sure the outings were suitable and accessible for everyone involved.
It’s a simple idea really.
Tenerife has mountains, forests, walking trails and landscapes that people travel thousands of miles to see. Getting more of the island’s older residents out there to enjoy them seems like a pretty sensible use of what Tenerife already has.
And if it helps people stay active, connected and interested in the world around them, even better.