Thur 15th Sept 2011 - IoW Green Gym 400th Session Press Release.

News Release: For release after 14^th September 2011

Isle of Wight Green Gym – Reaching 400!

Have the IW Green Gym been working in your neck of the woods recently? The chances are they have, as each week, for fifty weeks a year, this independent and proactive group hold conservation based activities right across the Island.

Recently the IW Green Gym has reached another milestone, their 400^th Wednesday morning Session.

IW Green Gym is linked to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), both in their principles of getting fit in the open air, and engaging communities in positive action for the environment.

These aims obviously are working as some of the members of IW Green Gym have been participating since the start in 2003. Committee members, Colin and June Withers, Secretary and Membership Officer respectively were founder members of the IW Green Gym. Many of the volunteers who joined them in the following years regularly make up the 30-40+ who attend each week doing great work to enhance our lovely island.

Eight years on among the many awards and commendations the IW GG has achieved is the prestigious Queens Award for Voluntary Service which was presented to the group in 2009 by their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

To celebrate this 400^th Session, the group is working at St Swithin’s old churchyard in Thorley. The work being carried out helps to manage this delightful location for the community and wildlife. This site is typical of many the group work on - hidden gems of the Island’s countryside, all needing the hands-on approach the group brings.

The IW Green Gym continues to benefit both the Island’s communities and its environment through its activities. The benefits also extend to those taking part each week, as volunteering is very much a two-way process, giving one’s time in exchange for improved fitness and well-being, and gaining skills and knowledge while making new friendships along the way.

Mark Russell, Chairman of IW Green Gym, commented.

“The 400^th session is a big anniversary for the group. We have come a long way and I’d very much like to thank the committee for their continued help in making it all possible.

Many thanks of course too to the fantastic body of volunteers who attend each week. Very little gets in the way of Green Gyming, I think it could almost be addictive!

Thanks also go to the many friends who have helped over the years, and to the 400+ people who have taken part in Green Gym sessions over the years and the more than 100 site owners and contributors.

Lastly we should thank The Footprint Trust which has supported us in many ways over the years and who originally began the Green Gym on the Island. ”.

For details of the IW Green Gym Autumn 2011 programme visit footprint-trust.co.uk/greengym or telephone 866459.

Contact Details:

iwgreengym@gmail.com

Mark Russell – Chairman

The Isle of Wight Green Gym is an independent community group providing an opportunity for caring for the environment and at the same time improving your health through various conservation tasks. We are one of around 90 nationwide and are affiliated to the BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers).