Green Gym

The Inverness Green Gym is run by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) in partnership with Merkinch Greenspace. The majority of the sessions are held in the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, with other activities taking place in Inverness High School, Abriachan Forest and Dunain Community Woodland.

BTCV carries out practical conservation projects with volunteer teams in order to help create a better environment where people are valued, included and involved and to create a more sustainable future by inspiring people and improving places. Using a learning by doing approach BTCV engages people in activities that connect people with their place, build healthy and sustainable communities and increase people's life skills.

Conventional gyms don't appeal to everyone and Green Gym offers people an alternative: the opportunity to improve their fitness by taking part in practical environmental projects in and around the Local Nature Reserve in Merkinch. The Green Gym is a great opportunity to get out and about, meet new people and learn new skills in a relaxed, fun, social environment, while hopefully burning off some extra calories at the same time!

Inverness Green Gym was launched in the Nature Reserve on 3rd September 2008 and sessions are held every Wednesday morning from 10am until 1pm. Since its launch Green Gym volunteers have worked on a variety of projects in the Reserve:

• Clearance of non native species (e.g. snowberry)
• Cutting back vegetation
• Habitat management
• Wildlife watching and recording
• Improving access for all abilities within the Reserve
• Environmental arts
• Litter clearance

The Green Gym is funded by BTCV and Fairer Scotland Funding.

As part of their work in the Reserve BTCV, in partnership with Merkinch Greenspace, is currently developing the idea of a Youth Ranger Scheme. A 6 month pilot project will start in the Reserve in April 2010.
The project will be targeted at young people aged 10 to 12 years and is intended to educate the participants about local wildlife and wider environmental issues.
Sessions will be held fortnightly and will have tasks, games and challenges relating to a specific nature and environment theme.
As part of the scheme young people will be offered the opportunity to gain a Youth Achievement Award.

 
 

Anyone wishing to take part in the Green Gym can just turn up on a Wednesday morning at 10.00am at the South Kessock Ticket Office.

For more information on the Green Gym and the Youth Ranger Scheme contact:

Karen Harper, BTCV on 01463 811560
or
Merkinch Partnership Officer, Anne Sutherland on 01463 718989.

Downloads

• Green Gym Work Programme January - March 2010 (PDF format approx. 650kb)