Be a Lean, Mean, Green Machine
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.17.06
You could go to the gym and run on a treadmill, watching TV and breathing conditioned air, or if you are in the UK, you can go to the Green Gym. Here, you get fit and burn calories while planting trees, laying hedges, building walls. Some Green Gym activites burn a third more calories than doing a step aerobics class, and you do good things for the environment at the same time. 'its a holistic way of getting people involved in the environment and community work, as well as the exercise" says one organizer. There are 65 Green Gyms in the UK now. ::Green Gyms via ::Time Out
check out this idea that I had last year - energyms - where your running on the treadmill generates energy
http://jeremy1.wordpress.com/2005/10/07/energyms/
That's a pretty good idea. Considering how many people go to the gym (esp. in the western world), I'm sure that all that energy could be harnessed for something more productive.
It's too bad the form to contact someone for more information doesn't work on their site though. I really wanted to get more info!
Hi Amy, A good place to start looking (if you're in the UK) is the web site of your local council's countryside management service, or your local Wildlife Trust.
I found out about groups in my area (there's several) from an advert in the local paper. There's uually someone on hand who will be able to give you further information at most volunteering events.