| Green Gyms | |
| Brief Description | The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) created and runs Green Gyms® across the UK. The aims of Green Gyms are to improve health and the environment at the same time. Objectives are to improve health and wellbeing – by increasing or maintaining fitness, reducing isolation and supporting better mental wellbeing, and increase employability – by increasing knowledge, skills and confidence. Green Gyms are free outdoor sessions where people are guided in practical activities such as planting trees, sowing meadows and establishing wildlife ponds. Unlike other conservation projects, the emphasis is very much on health and fitness – volunteers warm up and cool down in preparation for a range of light to vigorous activities to suit all abilities. Green Gyms are a weekly activity, running for 3-4 hours at a local community facility such as a park, usually in the day time on a weekday. Each Green Gym has up to 50-60 volunteers, with turnout on any one week typically ranging from six to 20. Green Gyms are available to everyone, people can just turn up and join in. GPs now prescribe Green Gym® sessions to patients to encourage them to improve their health and wellbeing. By taking part, participants are encouraged to make positive changes to their lifestyle, such as walking and cycling more. |
| Image | – |
| European Country(s) | Germany, United Kingdom |
| Field | Living/Green spaces: Other, Consuming: Healthy Consumption, Moving: Other |
| Type | Intervention |
| Impact | Health, Equity, Environmental sustainability |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Target Group | General population, Those who have been recommended to join by their doctors |
| Evaluation | Yes |
| Level | Local, National |
| INHERIT Perspective | Green gyms help to improve health, social inclusion and the environment at the same time. They enable participants to increase or maintain fitness, help reduce isolation and support better mental wellbeing, and increase employability – by increasing knowledge, skills and confidence. Green gyms are available to any person in the community, but benefits are greater for those with poorer health. They improve the environmental state in local areas, and influence individual exposure and experience through participation in physical activities that improve aspects of the local environment. |
| Detailed description PDF filename | Download file |
| Relevant links | http://www.tcv.org.uk/greengym |
| Contact | greengym@tcv.org.uk |
