We're fat and bureaucrats are to blame! That appeared to be the message from the Government report, Sleepwalking our way to obesity, stating we're heading for an early grave because of our sedentary lifestyles.
Reading the report you'd think we are all incapable of controlling what we eat or how we exercise. Are we really under the thrall of out TV's, play stations, computers and motorised transport to the extent that we can dump all blame for our growing waistlines on technology and/or planners who create pedestrian unfriendly towns and cities? I think not.
For those with a grip on reality and a desire to be active within their communities, the RSPB has a simple answer to the nations obesity crisis. Gardening for wildlife and, for the more hardy, volunteering for some practical conservation work on our reserves.
Both of these activities involve hard manual labour. Plenty of bending, stretching, lifting and movement. The best bit is that you don't need to fork out for a gym fee. On top of this, you get to see a real difference in your garden and can spend some smug-time admiring your work while oiling your bulging pecs! You sexy thing.
No specialist knowledge is required because those clever researchers and experts at the RSPB's HQ have come up with a system that creates a win-win situation. Coinciding with Feed the Birds Day on Saturday 27 October (Come and meet me and the London Team at Hampstead Heath near the Secret Garden 27 and 28 for more info) we'll be launching Homes for Wildlife.
Anyone registering to take part in this new interactive project receives free gardening information. What's more, tell us about your garden and you'll be emailed some personalised stuff about attracting more wildlife to your very own outdoor space!
The beauty of this scheme is that you get free gardening advice, you get fit during the gardening work, London's environment will improve for wildlife, declining bird numbers should, in theory, start to recover and the RSPB can start to look at investing effort on other environmental issues; and there's no shortage of those!
Speaking of which, a big FAT thank you to everyone who signed our Marine Bill petition.
300,000 signatures were handed into Downing Street calling for a Marine Bill to be included in the next Queen's speech. We desperately need this protection for coastal communities, coastal wildlife and the wider marine environment. At present, it doesn't have anything like the protection seen by nature reserves and national parks. It's time we valued our coast as much as we value our land.
Now, go forth and dig and may the only shed in your garden be the pounds from your waistline.