Adam Frost's gardening for health

Keeping fit Want to start 2023 with a new fitness regime, but don't fancy going to the gym? In the second part of his series, Adam Frost looks at how our gardens can help us keep fit

- By Adam Frost

As you know, gardening has always played a big part in my life. I view the garden as a safe place - somewhere to find myself and clear my mind. But can it be somewhere to keep fit too? Over the past few years I've begun to wonder whether, like me, many people may not realise that our gardens can help to keep us fit and maybe even add a few years to our lives? I would say I've taken my own physical health for granted over the years. Don't get me wrong, I've always gardened, landscaped and played a lot of football, then when that finished I started running and now go to the gym - but it's only when I was doing these things that I considered myself to be exercising. Gardening as a form of exercise never crossed my mind.

Of course when I ran my landscape team I used to lark about with the lads - seeing who could lift the most turfs in a barrow, how quick we could climb a tree or how long it would take to move 20 tonnes of sand. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but it used to help the days pass! It was only during these times that I could feel myself really breathing hard. But, even then, I don't think I realised the garden could provide a good workout and play a major part in keeping me fit and active.

Hidden strength