Dr. William Bird
Strategic Health Advisor to Natural England
GP, Health Walking, Green Gym
Dr William Bird is the strategic health advisor for Natural England leading the health programme to develop the natural environment as a major health resource. He chairs the Outdoor Health Forum that unites all major UK environment organisations to influence health professionals to use the natural environment for prevention and treatment. While as a GP in South Oxfordshire he set up Health Walks and the Green Gym in the late 1990s which are now throughout the UK using the natural environment to increase physical activity and wellbeing. He still works half time as a GP in Reading.He has published several papers related to physical activity and co-authored a book, Walking for Health and published two reports, "Natural Fit" and "Natural Thinking" that have reviewed the evidence linking the natural environment with physical activity and mental health respectively. He has recently become the Clinical Director of the Environment and Human Health Unit at the Peninsular Medical School.
William is on the cross government obesity delivery group and is working to deliver the National Walking Campaign mentioned in the recent DH obesity strategy.
He set up the Health Forecasting Unit at the Met Office where he was clinical director for 5 years. Health Forecasting is a new discipline being led by the Met Office to use weather forecasts to prevent hospital admissions and this won the innovation category at the 2007 NHS Healthcare awards.
He is married with three children and lives in Oxfordshire.
"I represent Natural England whose aim is to get more people to use the countryside for the benefit of their health, wellbeing, and economy. In particular, we are working with Department of Health and the NHS to look at how the natural environment can help the NHS achieve its health targets through physical activities, mental health and reducing inequalities. Working in the Peninsula Medical School, European Environment and Human Health Centre, the aim is to understand the relationship between the natural environment and health."
The Blue Gym by William Bird | Campaign for Greener Healthcare
November 19th, 2009
The Blue Gym by William Bird | Campaign for Greener Healthcare.
The Blue Gym is about enjoying our water environment!
Whether you are a complete beginner or an expert in a sport, whether you just want to go for a walk next to the sea or rivers, to learn about and watch wildlife, or get into more challenging activities, the Blue Gym is for you. Remember the best sailor, surfer or rock pool rambler is the one having the most fun!
The Blue Gym will create an information hub and showcase to encourage activities and usage of the coastline and inland waters. It will help make water accessible and relevant to everyone.
Regular contact with the natural environment results in many benefits including:
- Reduction in Stress
- Increased Physical Activity and therefore fitness
- Stronger Communities
- An increased awareness of the value of the natural environment
For you and other people, the Blue Gym is a chance to learn about new sports, activities and interests. It also gives you the chance to meet like-minded people, join groups or clubs and find and share videos, pictures and thoughts around anything to do with water. For those who already take part in a sport or activity it can be a great chance to encourage and teach others and to pass on some of that feel good factor that you get from the water. One of my best friends is someone who I taught to surf after he’d had a heart attack. He’s now in the water all year round and he’s loads fitter!
For organisations, clubs and even just loose groups, it gives a chance to show-case what you’re up to, attract new members, exchange information about events, campaigns and communicate with everyone out there.
The Blue Gym is a Peninsula Medical School initiative supported by the Environment Agency and Natural England and the Department of Health.
www.bluegym.org.uk
info@bluegym.org.uk
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