Eco Active scheme benefits health and environment

Redditch residents over 50 who do not feel like going to the gym can benefit from a new Council project to improve the local park. The project involves weekly Eco Active sessions at Arrow Valley Park.

Each session includes one to three hours of practical conservation and gardening, punctuated by warm up and cool down exercises, as well as a tea break.

Funded by a grant from district and county councillor Gay Hopkins, Eco Active is part of a community health initiative to promote healthier lifestyles among older people.

Ms Hopkins said “Eco Active is a proven way to get the heart and muscles working as well as being a great way for people to get involved in looking after their local environment.”

She told the Redditch Advertiser that the scheme is already very popular. Participants not only have the opportunity to get out and make friends, but also to do something useful for the environment while using their gardening skills.

In addition to the social and physical benefits, those who participate in the scheme are also mentally and spiritually refreshed. When working in one spot for some time, people get a feel for the environment, which is often topped off with a surprise visit from wildlife in the area.

What's this?