Green Gym opening at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm

The new Green Gym at Cholderton is about to join the 90+ Green Gyms in the UK working towards make people fitter by being closer to nature.

There is recognition amongst environmental and health professionals that green space benefits peoples’ health. In particular, green space offers an alternative and motivating environment that supports people’s mental and physical health. BTCV’s Green Gym was one of the first programmes in the world to capitalise on this synergy, helping people to become more active in the outdoors through conservation work. Health benefits behind the Green Gym have been demonstrated in two research paper produced by the Oxford Brooks University. Research on the Green Gym also suggests that it helps improve cardio vascular activity and muscular strength. Ensuring peoples physical and mental well-being by involving them in activities to improve the local environment. That is Green Gym in short.

The concept of Green Gym was created in 1997 by BTCV (a leading environment volunteering charity) in partnership with Dr. William Bird. Green Gym at Cholderton will work as a self-sustained community group by encouraging the participants to get involved in various practical activities thereby improving the local environment and their physical and mental fitness. The Green Gym at Cholderton will be hosted by Cholderton Charlie’s Rare Breeds Farm and the various activities will take place in the areas surrounding these premises. The Cholderton Green Gym will work in close collaboration with local health practitioners to provide advise and support to health issues.


A typical 3 hour session in the Green Gym will involve warm-up and cool-down session, health and safety talk, the activities such as horticulture, forestry, working with animals  and a range of other outdoor activities and will include a tea break. It gives a great opportunity for the participants to connect to the nature, work as a team, improve the local environment and in the process lead a health life. The Green Gym is free for the members and if you are interested to be a part of the Green Gym community group contact Bill Davison at BD@billdavison.demon.co.uk  or telephone the Farm and leave your details  ( Tel: 01980629438 )