A health and wellbeing programme recently launched in Richmond will be featured on BBC’s Trust Me, I’m a Doctor tomorrow evening (November 1).

The Conservation Volunteers Green Gym, which launched in the borough in October, offers volunteers the opportunity to take part in practical nature conservation sessions while getting active and fit.

Activities include practical conservation habits such as planting wildflowers, scything, the removal of invasive species and scrub clearing, path clearance and deadwood hedging.

TCV’s Green Gym was selected to take part in the BBC2 programme’s new study into the effects of different activities on stress levels.

The eight-week study came about after a survey by the BBC team found that “how to beat stress” was people’s top mental health question.

Commissioned by the BBC and undertaken by the University of Westminster, the study monitored changes to the level of the stress hormone cortisol in separate groups of participants taking part in Green Gym, yoga and mindfulness against a control group.

Results 

The results showed Green Gym participants reported higher levels of well-being and lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

Participants also collected saliva samples to measure the stress hormone cortisol.

As well as being stress responsive, cortisol is essential for life and a burst of cortisol shortly after waking up- known as the cortisol awakening response- is a sign of good health.

Compared to a the control group, who did not engage in any extra activity, the participants in the Green Gym group had a 20 per cent improvement in cortisol awakening response and this was increased further in those who reported even more enjoyment with the Green Gym.

Green Gym participants showed the greatest reduction in anxiety of all the groups when assessed by a validated questionnaire.

Green Gym Participant Gary said: “I think the Green Gym made me feel better because of the social aspect and communing with nature.

“After the eight weeks I felt noticeably calmer when a couple of crises occurred, I dealt with them in a much better way than I would have before the Green Gym.

“I will remember the people, the skills I learnt and the people I managed to teach. I made several good friends that I am still in touch with months after the 8 weeks finished.”

The mental health special of Trust Me, I’m a Doctor will air at 9pm on BBC TWO on November 1.

Richmond Green Gym sessions run from 11am to 2pm every Wednesday throughout the year, and the group meets at KG Café in Kneller Gardens.

To join in please contact project officer Chloe Green at gg-richmond@tcv.org.uk or 07717 494476