New Green Gym launched in Countess of Chester Country Park

The Countess of Chester Country Park Green Gym launched on Thursday last week, providing local people with fun and free outdoor sessions in practical activities that have a focus on health and fitness.

The Green Gym will help to maintain the country park, developed and owned by the Land Trust, as well as provide the volunteers with an activity that focuses on their health, fitness and mental wellbeing for a period of 10-12 weeks.

The Green Gym is being funded through the Nature4Health, whose aim is to use the power of nature to help people give their minds and bodies a boost. Nature4Health is a three year project funded by The Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities Programme to tackle health inequalities in local communities across The Mersey Forest.

As the managing agents of the Land Trust park, TCV will run the Green Gym sessions for two days a week on a Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-12.30. With a range of practical activities that are suitable for all, everyone is welcome to join in and feel good. TCV also welcomes volunteers who’ve been referred by their doctor.

Neil McMahon, TCV Project Officer said: “TCV already manage the Countess of Chester Country Park for the Land Trust, so when we received the funding from Nature4Health to set up a new Green Gym here, we knew it was the perfect location.

“Despite the awful weather that’s been hitting the North West recently, the team of volunteers headed to the country park and spent a couple of hours completing practical activities such as hedge laying. As the sessions are so beneficial to their health, we’re excited for this new Green Gym to create healthy and happy communities in this area.”

Alan Carter, Head of Portfolio Management at the Land Trust said: “The country park is mostly located on a former landfill site next to the Countess of Chester Hospital. After development by the Land Trust, now visitors find grasslands, wetlands and lots of wildlife. TCV manage the park, so the launch of this new Green Gym is the perfect opportunity to keep the park maintained and give volunteers access to nature to benefit their physical and mental health.”