Green Gyms

TCV Green Gym® is a scheme which inspires you to improve both your health and the environment at the same time. Experienced leaders guide you through a range of practical projects, giving you the opportunity to tackle physical jobs in the outdoors – improving your strength and stamina, boosting your practical skills and confidence and benefiting your local green spaces. Green Gyms are particularly suitable for those suffering from or recovering from long physical or mental illnesses, for the elderly or the unemployed.

Here in Bradley Stoke the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group hold a weekly Green Gym each Thursday from 10am to about 1pm. They are always accompanied by trained leaders and first aiders and include tea and biscuits. All Bradley Stoke Green Gyms meet in the security compound at the rear of the Leisure Centre. All you need to do is turn up. You will be warmly welcomed.

Links: Green Gym contact details; Green Gym website; BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour item; BBC web article; Green Gym poster.

Previous Green Gyms

Hover the mouse over the event to highlight the location on the map.

Click here to see upcoming Green Gyms

  • Litter Picking
    2015-03-05

    Litter Picking at the marsh and clear water channels.
    5th March 2015

  • Pruning
    2015-01-01

    Prune Orchard trees.
    26th Feb 2015

  • Clearing blackthorn
    Clear Blackthorn growth along the Braydon Gatepath.
    19th Feb 2015

  • Clearing stream banks
    2015-01-01


    Improve view at the Bluebells bridge
    12th Feb 2015

  • Nest Box Survey Webbs Wood
    2015-01-01



  • Clearing stream banks
    2015-01-01


    Improve view at the Bluebells bridge
    5th February 2015

  • Coppicing
    2015-01-01


    Coppice willows near lower pond.
    29th Jan 2015

  • Coppicing
    2015-01-01


    Coppice willows nearlower pond.
    22nd Jan 2015

  • Coppicing
    2015-01-01


    Coppice outer edge ofhedgerow alongside carpark path especiallysallow

  • TBA
    2010-12-31



    Subsequent Thursdays

    The work for subsequent Green Gyms has not been put on the website yet - watch this space.
    Click here to see the Green Gym publicity poster (65Kb PDF).



  • Xmas Walk/Survey
    2010-11-23




    23 Dec 2010
    Xmas Walk/Survey. Wrap up warm. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Maintenance - lower newt pond
    2010-11-16




    16 Dec 2010
    Maintenance - lower newt pond.

  • Follow up Saturday Task
    2010-11-09




    9 Dec 2010
    Follow up Saturday Task.

  • Check Dewfalls Pond
    2010-11-02



    2 Dec 2010
    Check Dewfalls Pond. Waders will be needed. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Check Davis's Pond
    2010-10-26




    25 Nov 2010
    Check Davis's Pond. Waders will be needed.

  • Check Bird boxes Webbs Wood
    2010-10-19




    18 Nov 2010
    Check Bird boxes Webbs Wood. Ladder will be reqd. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Tree Felling Small plantation
    2010-10-12




    11 Nov 2010
    Tree Felling Small plantation.

  • Check Bird boxes Middle Plantation
    2010-10-05




    4 Nov 2010
    Check Bird boxes Middle Plantation. Ladder will be reqd. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Check Bird boxes Savages Wood
    2010-09-28




    28 Oct 2010
    Check Bird boxes Savages Wood. Ladder will be reqd. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Check Bird boxes Northern Plantation
    2010-09-21



    21 Oct 2010
    Check Bird boxes Northern Plantation. Ladder will be reqd. (Backup activity: Clear under growth either side of laid hedge)

  • Ram Hill Colliery
    2010-09-14




    14 Oct 2010
    Ram Hill Colliery. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Follw up Saturday Task
    2010-09-07




    7 Oct 2010
    Follw up Saturday Task. Loppers, slashers reqd. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Clear Bramble Bowsland Wood and Northern plantations
    2010-08-31




    30 Sep 2010
    Repair tear in newt pond liner, tidy up arbour and remove tree guards.

  • Create Micro climate Eastern edge Bowsland Wood
    2010-08-24




    23 Sep 2010
    Create Micro climate Eastern edge Bowsland Wood. Loppers, slashers reqd. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Clear bramble micro alleys at the orchard
    2010-08-17




    16 Sep 2010
    Clear bramble micro alleys at the orchard. Loppers, slashers reqd. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Follow up Saturday task
    2010-08-10




    9 Sep 2010
    Follow up Saturday task. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Removing tree guards on the Tump
    2010-08-03




    2 Sep 2010
    Removing tree guards on the Tump.

  • Haymaking Bowsland Meadow
    2010-07-27




    26 Aug 2010
    Haymaking Bowsland Meadow. Kevlar gloves if possible.

  • Haymaking Bowsland Meadow
    2010-07-20




    19 Aug 2010
    Haymaking Bowsland Meadow. Kevlar gloves if possible. (Backup activity: Remove scrup growth)

  • Haymaking Bowsland Meadow
    2010-07-13




    12 Aug 2010
    Haymaking Bowsland Meadow. Kevlar gloves if possible. (Backup activity: Remove Bramble patch from centre of field)

  • Himalayam Balsam - somewhere
    2010-07-06




    5 Aug 2010
    Himalayam Balsam - somewhere. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Re-visit Middle Plantation Drainage system
    2010-06-29




    29 Jul 2010
    Re-visit Middle Plantation Drainage system. (Backup activity: Remove ash re-growth)

  • Clean Orienteering markers and Litter Pick
    2010-06-22




    22 Jul 2010
    Clean Orienteering markers and Litter PIck.

  • Tool Maintenance day
    2010-06-15



    15 Jul 2010
    Tool Maintenance day. (Backup activity: Litter Pick, balsam pick)

  • Himalayan Balsam - the Lake
    2010-06-08




    8 Jul 2010
    Himalayan Balsam - the Lake.

  • Himalayan Balsam - Stoke Brook
    2010-06-01




    1 Jul 2010
    Himalayan Balsam - Stoke Brook. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Clear ash regrowth Northern Plantations
    2010-05-25



    24 Jun 2010
    Clear ash regrowth Northern Plantations. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Himalayan Balsam - the swamp
    2010-05-18




    17 Jun 2010
    Himalayan Balsam - the swamp. Southern dwellers meet on site. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Follow up Saturday Task
    2010-05-11




    10 Jun 2010
    Follow up Saturday Task. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Himalayan Balsam - the swamp
    2010-05-04




    3 Jun 2010
    Himalayan Balsam - the swamp. Southern dwellers meet on site.

  • Trip to Winterbourne Reserves
    2010-04-27




    27 May 2010
    Trip to Winterbourne Reserves.

  • Himalayan Balsam Patchway Brook
    2010-04-20




    20 May 2010
    Himalayan Balsam Patchway Brook. (Backup activity: Litter Picking)

  • Himalayan Balsam Patchway Brook
    2010-04-13




    13 May 2010
    Himalayan Balsam Patchway Brook. (Backup activity: Litter Picking)

  • Stream Cleaning
    2010-04-06




    6 May 2010
    Stream Cleaning. Wellies reqd. Waders will be in use. (Backup activity: Clear Himalayan Balsom )

  • Weed Wildfower patches - Bowsland Meadow
    2010-03-30




    29 Apr 2010
    Tool Clean day. (Backup activity: clean out tool store )

  • Ram Hill Colliery
    2010-03-23


    22 Apr 2010
    Ram Hill Colliery.

  • Ram Hill Colliery
    2010-03-16



    15 Apr 2010
    Ram Hill Colliery.

  • Install Bat Boxes
    2010-03-09



    8 Apr 2010
    Install Bat Boxes in Savages Wood. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Clear Davis Pond
    2010-03-02



    1 Apr 2010
    Clear Davis Pond.

  • Litter Pick front edge Savages Wood
    2010-02-23



    25 Mar 2010
    Litter Pick front edge Savages Wood.

  • Clearing irrigation channels meet at the Breyden Gate entrance
    2010-02-16



    18 Mar 2010
    Clearing Irrigation channels. (Backup activity: stream clearing)

  • Follow up tree felling Orchard Plantation
    2010-02-09



    11 Mar 2010
    Follow up tree felling Orchard Plantation. (Backup activity: Litter Pick)

  • Litter Picking at the marsh
    2010-02-02



    4 Mar 2010
    Litter Picking at the marsh. Southern dwellers meet on site. Wellies reqd. (Backup activity: Clear water channels)

  • Tree Felling Orchard plantation
    2010-01-26



    25 Feb 2010
    Tree Felling Orchard plantation. (Backup activity: dead hedge along brook)

  • Tree Felling Orchard plantation
    2010-01-19



    18 Feb 2010
    Tree Felling Orchard plantation. (Backup activity: dead hedge along brook)

  • Tree Felling Orchard plantation
    2010-01-12



    11 Feb 2010
    Tree Felling Orchard plantation. (Backup activity: dead hedge along brook)

  • Tree Felling Orchard plantation
    2010-01-05



    4 Feb 2010
    Tree Felling Orchard plantation. (Backup activity: dead hedge along brook)

  • Tree Felling Orchard plantation
    2009-12-29



    28 Jan 2010
    Tree Felling Orchard plantation. . (Backup activity: dead hedge along brook)

  • Coppice hedgerow alongside car park path
    2009-12-22



    21 Jan 2010
    Coppice hedgerow alongside car park path.

  • Coppice hedgerow alongside car park path
    2009-12-15



    14 Jan 2010
    Coppice hedgerow alongside car park path. (Backup activity: Litter Pick, dead hedge)

  • Tool Cleaning day
    2009-12-08



    7 Jan 2010
    Tool Cleaning day.

  • Green Gym Dec 17th

    17 Dec 2009
    Xmas walk. We must be able to work a pub into this walk somehow.

  • Green Gym Dec 10th

    10 Dec 2009
    Follow up tree felling. In case the Saturday task is incompete or not completely cleared away

  • Green Gym Dec 3rd

    3 Dec 2009
    Clean Top Newt Pond. Move surplus water plants to the new newt pond

  • Green Gym Nov 26th

    26 Nov 2009
    Install new Bird Boxes where best required. As observed when checking existing boxes

  • Green Gym Nov 19th

    19 Nov 2009
    Check Bird Boxes - Sherbournes Brake. Annual task

  • Green Gym Nove 12th

    12 Nov 2009
    Check Bird boxes Webbs Wood. Annual task

  • Green Gym Nov 5th

    5 Nov 2009
    Check Bird boxes middle plantation. Annual task

  • Green Gym Oct 29th

    29 Oct 2009
    Check Bird boxes Savages Wood. Annual task

  • Green Gym Oct 22nd

    22 Oct 2009
    Remove tree guards around the tump area. Provided enough leaves have fallen to make them visible again

  • Green Gym Oct 15th

    15 Oct 2009 "
    Clear Bramble Bowsland Wood. This is a filler task, there is only a little bramble that would cause concern."

  • Green Gym Oct 8th

    8 Oct 2009
    Clear bramble micro alleys and footpath south of Savages wood. Thisis the circular channel cuththrough a bramble patch several years ago that requires annual maintenance

  • Green Gym Oct 1st

    1 Oct 2009
    Clean out Bomb Craters.

  • Green Gym Sep 24th

    24 Sep 2009
    Work on new newt pond as reqd Following installation of fencing. This may need leaving until after the top newt pond has been cleared.

  • Green Gym Sep 17th

    17 Sep 2009
    Clear fish from new newt pond. This is if the fish still remain.

  • Green Gym Sep 10th

    10 Sep 2009
    Follow up Marsh work. In case the Saturday task is not complete

  • Green Gym Sep 3rd

    3 Sep 2009
    Clear Water Channels at the Marsh. In preparation for the Workday. To ensure the workday can concentrate on new irrigation channels

  • Green Gym Aug 27th

    27 Aug 2009
    Haymaking Bowsland Meadow. Again these are filler tasks

  • Green Gym Aug 20th

    20 Aug 2009
    Haymaking Bowsland Meadow. Again these are filler tasks

  • Green Gym Aug 13th

    13 Aug 2009
    Haymaking Bowsland Meadow. Again these are filler tasks

  • Green Gym Aug 6th

    6 Aug 2009 "
    Tidy up Willow seat at the lower pond, tighten and fasten wire at the west end of the fence. The pond is looking tired rather than overgrown"

  • Green Gym July 30th

    30 Jul 2009
    Create Animal Shelters in the northern plantation. Using previously felled logs

  • Green Gym July 23rd

    23 Jul 2009
    Clean Orienteering markers. Cleaing fluid andrags reqd. This will be a nobile day and thus a no storm kettle day so flasks will be required

  • Green Gym July 16th

    16 Jul 2009
    Tool Maintenance day. There are some structural changes to be made to the tool racks.

  • Green Gym July 9th

    9 Jul 2009
    Fell three bark stripped trees in Savages Wood. The trees have been stripped by vandals andwill die. Stumps need to taken as low as possible.

  • Green Gym July 2nd

    2 Jul 2009
    Collecting Bluebell Seeds in Webbs Wood. Collection of seeds is legal if not sold on. Seed to be propogated at home and planted out later

  • Green Gym June 25th

    25 Jun 2009
    remove fallen willow in the northern plantation and clear ash regrowth. Previously felled ash trees try to coppice. Minor Accident to Quentin.

  • Green Gym June 18th

    18 Jun 2009
    Himalayan Balsam - Marsh. this always needs doing. These activities are 'fillers' to be done if no higher priority exists

  • Green Gym June 11th

    11 Jun 2009
    Stream Cleaning. Stream concerned depends upon the Saturday Workday selection. GG will do the other.

  • Green Gym June 4th

    4 Jun 2009
    Back to 1st Himalayan Balsam site. Finish off the task started early May

  • Green Gym May 28th

    28 May 2009 "
    Weed new Wild Flower squares at Sherbournes Brake. Remove thistles, dandelions etc."

  • Green Gym May 21st

    21 May 2009
    Litter Picking at the marsh. Clear before vegetation hides litter - preliminary clearing of channels and blocking of run off to the brook.

  • Balsam Bashing
    2009-04-14



    14 May 2009

    We will be removing Himalayan Balsam from the wooded area at the base of the tump on which we were working last week.



  • Drainage
    2009-04-07



    7 May 2009

    We will address a complaint by a user of the reserve concerning offrun from the school playing fields forming stagnant pools with an unpleasant smell alongside the footpath. We will complete the drainage of this almost permanent offrun through to the Patchway Brook.



  • Davies Pond
    2009-03-30



    30 April 2009

    We will be cleaning out Davies Pond near the Jubilee Centre


  • Identifying Jobs
    2009-03-23



    23 April 2009

    We will be taking a stroll through the reserve assessing further work. In particular we will be examining possible drainage solutions for the 'middle plantation'. Meet at the shed at 10am.


  • Install Notice Board
    2009-03-16



    16 April 2009

    If we can get the materials beforehand we will probably be installing the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group notice board near the lake. Meet at the lake or at the Tool Store, we will be shifting the tools, notice board and concrete by wheel barrow to the site.


  • Ram Hill Colliery
    2009-03-09



    9 April 2009

    We will be at Ram Hill Colliery again to remove the stump which we worked on last week and perhaps to remove a 2nd smaller one. (Be warned that this is heavier work than normal Green Gyms). Meet at the tool shed at 10am, (lifts will need to be arranged).

  • Ram Hill Colliery
    2009-03-02



    2 April 2009

    We have been asked to make a trip to Ram Hill Colliery to give some help there. We don't know exactly what we will be doing there, but be warned that it is likely to be heavier physical work than the normal Green Gyms. Meet at the tool shed at 10am (a lift will be provided).

  • Litter Picking
    2009-02-26



    26 March 2009

    Litter Pick the Braydon Avenue - lake path -meet at the Braydon Avenue Gate entrance to the Reserve (if we remember to retain the litter pickers the week before).

  • Litter Picking
    2009-02-19



    19 March 2009

    Litter Pick the front edge of Savages Wood opposite Tescos - meet at the Tool Store.

  • Path Maintenance
    2009-02-12



    12 March 2009

    At the request of John we will be removing bike ramps from Savages Wood and making good the paths.

  • Path Resurfacing
    2009-02-05



    5 March 2009

    We will be spreading wood chips at the new entrance to Savages Wood (the chips are in the clearing in the Wood left over from the Festival of light).

  • Tree Felling
    2009-01-26



    26 February 2009

    We will tree felling in the middle plantation

  • Leaflet Dispensers
    2009-01-19



    19 February 2009

    We will be finishing off the job of putting up leaflet dispensers at the entrances to the reserve and, as we walk around, looking out for other jobs that need doing around the reserve.

  • Leaflet Dispensers
    2009-01-12



    12 February 2009

    We will be putting up leaflet dispensers at the entrances to the reserve and, as we walk around, looking out for other jobs that need doing around the reserve.

  • Cancelled
    2009-01-05



    5 February 2009

    Green Gym is cancelled today due to the snow.

  • Coppicing
    2008-12-29



    29 January 2009

    We will be continuing the coppicing and dead hedging by the lower entrance to Savage's Wood.

  • Coppicing
    2008-12-22



    22 January 2009

    We will be continuing the coppicing and dead hedging by the lower entrance to Savage's Wood.

  • Coppicing
    2008-12-15



    15 January 2009

    We will be continuing the coppicing and dead hedging by the lower entrance to Savage's Wood.

  • Coppicing
    2008-12-08



    8 January 2009

    We will be continuing the coppicing and dead hedging by the lower entrance to Savage's Wood.

  • Coppicing
    2008-12-01



    1 January 2009

    We will be continuing the coppicing and dead hedging by the lower entrance to Savage's Wood.

  • Coppicing
    2008-11-18



    18 December 2008

    We will be coppicing and dead hedging by the lower entrance to Savage's Wood.