A newly launched Green Gyms scheme could help schools reduce childhood obesity and depression, according to a report released today.
The idea behind the eco fitness programme is to give children up to 90 minutes of exercise a day while contributing to environmental projects such as building raised flower beds, creating wooden footpaths, planting trees and growing vegetables.
Officers from BTCV spent an hour and a half a week at nine schools during an 18th month period since the introduction in the scheme in 2006. Over 250 children aged seven to eleven have participated, and an independent study into the effects of a nationwide health scheme aimed at childhood obesity discovered encouraging results.
Results released today from a pilot study by BTCV into extending their Green Gym concept into schools have highlighted strong positive improvements in physical fitness, mental wellbeing, behaviour and social skills amongst child participants. The study, by Oxford Brookes University, sought to examine the impact that a national Green Gym scheme would have on the issues of childhood inactivity.
The results highlighted the increase in the children’s self-confidence, communications skills and the ability to work as a team. The children reported that they felt good about themselves and their happiness at improving their school or local areas.
Oakwood Primary School in Leeds, one of the 10% most deprived wards in the country, took part in the pilot. Abi Fido, a Year 5 teacher helping BTCV to run the Oakwood Primary scheme comments: "Green Gym has provided a fantastic alternative way for children at our school to be active. It fits in well with our own 'Healthy Schools' programme and the children involved have a real sense of pride in their garden, which has been great to see. Some of our children who lack confidence in school have taken pleasure in showing other children in the class what they have grown.”
An additional strength of Green Gym projects in schools is their potential sustainability. BTCV staff train up teachers and parents over the lifetime of the initial funding, with a view to passing on both the environmental and group skills needed to keep the project running for the longer-term.
Tom Flood, CBE, chief executive of the BTCV said: “The pilot project results are extremely encouraging and represent a workable solution to the problems of childhood inactivity, obesity and depression – while also benefiting the environment.
“Given the success of the pilot, we’re keen now to work with government, local authorities and schools to make the Green Gym school programme nationwide. We have developed a model that enables teachers and parents to set up and run their own Gyms, and aim to establish 60 School Green Gyms by 2012.
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