Allotment - the Where, When, Why and How - Green Gyms

Not a rule about the colours you can wear on your allotment - Green Gym is a scheme that encourages people to improve their health and the environment at the same time. It offers any individual the opportunity to work in the open air. It's a fact that physically active people are over fifty per cent less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke than the rest of the population, but over two thirds of us are not active enough to gain any health benefit. In addition to the exercise, people who take part are given the chance to improve their local environment and may even be able to benefit from fresh locally grown vegetables. The scheme is run by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

BTCV Green Gym groups meet in their local area at least once a week for a session lasting for up to three hours. During this time the volunteers do environmental conservation or gardening activities under the supervision of a trained leader, which could range from planting a new hedge, clearing an overgrown path, or helping build or maintain a community garden.

A typical session means you will be led through some basic warm up exercises and cool down activities to make the most of the work you do. Volunteers need no previous experience or equipment, just some old clothes to wear for outdoor work. All the sessions are free and volunteers are trained to use tools and equipment safely as well as gaining knowledge and experience about conservation and gardening.

For more information, visit - http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/greengym.

Green gym allotment photograph by Xerones, used under a creative commons attribution licence