Surrey’s Green Health scheme offers £170,000 for nature-based fitness
A £170,000 boost for green spaces across Surrey
If you have been meaning to get more exercise but find the gym off-putting, Surrey County Council may have just given you a reason to head outdoors. The council has launched its Green Health and Wellbeing scheme, backed by £170,000, and it is aimed squarely at the people who make our green spaces work: volunteers, walking leaders and community gardeners. Across the county, from the allotment plots tucked behind residential streets to the weekend conservation groups clearing paths in local woodland, there is a lot of quiet effort already happening. The new funding is designed to help those small groups grow, share their knowledge and work more closely together rather than operating in isolation. The scheme is being run in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey, which will manage the fund and decide how it reaches local organisations. Surrey has no shortage of places to put this money to use. Its heaths, river corridors and village greens already offer plenty of space for activity, and the council’s message is that being active in these settings can benefit both body and mind. For residents who have felt that fitness is out of reach, the scheme offers a practical alternative: a regular walk with a group, a few hours helping to maintain a community garden, or a conservation task that gets you moving while doing something useful for the area.
Who stands to benefit from the funding
The people most directly affected are the small, volunteer-led organisations that already keep these projects running. Community gardens often depend on a handful of committed members who juggle tools, seeds, and insurance paperwork alongside their own jobs. Walking groups may be little more than a WhatsApp list and a regular meeting point at a car park or village hall. For groups like these, a modest grant can make the difference between a project that struggles on and one that can expand, buy equipment, or start offering sessions to people who would never normally join in. Cabinet member for health and communities Mark Nuti has said that spending time in nature can have a positive impact on both physical and mental wellbeing, and the council is clearly hoping that local groups will bring new faces into the fold. That includes people who are recovering from illness, older residents who want company on their walks, and younger people who might otherwise spend their free time indoors. Chief executive Beccy Bowden of the Community Foundation for Surrey has spoken about helping residents connect with nature and access the benefits of green and blue spaces, which suggests the fund will look beyond traditional parkland to include waterways and wetlands as well. Local groups interested in applying should check the Community Foundation for Surrey’s website or get in touch directly, and it is worth doing so early, as funding rounds of this kind tend to attract plenty of interest.
What residents should know and what happens next
For most of us, the practical question is simple: how can I get involved? The first step is to find out what is already happening near you. Your parish council, local library noticeboard, or community Facebook groups are good places to start, and many established walking groups and gardening clubs are always glad to welcome newcomers. If you are not sure you have the time or confidence to lead something, volunteering for a single conservation day is a low-commitment way to try it out. Groups that receive funding may also need help with building projects, painting, fencing or general repairs, and some Guilford-based community projects could benefit from local tradespeople giving a few hours of skilled help. Many Guilford builders already support local causes, so if you run a small firm and want to get involved, reaching out to a community garden or walking group could be a rewarding way to give something back. Over the coming months, watch for announcements about which organisations receive grants and what new sessions they start. The real measure of success will be whether people who take up these activities keep coming back. For residents who are also planning improvements at home, such as a loft conversion or loft refurbishment, the same principle applies: small, well-planned projects often deliver the most lasting value for the community.
Source: People in Surrey urged to walk or volunteer to improve fitness
