Climbing praised for helping with mental health

The 270 Climbing Park has the largest outdoor climbing wall in the UK

Climbing parks in the West say more people are turning to the activity to help manage their mental wellbeing.

Climbers at 270 Climbing Park near Gloucester have described it as helping them to combat a range of health challenges, including post-natal depression, menopause, and work-related stress.

Bee Barker, from the area, said the sport had become a form of "meditation" for her.

Users of Wiltshire climbing centre The Arc have also started a men's health group to support people through mental health struggles.

Opened in August, 270 Climbing Park, near Bentham, is home to the UK's tallest outdoor climbing wall.

Climber Ms Barker said she felt an improvement in her wellbeing from her "very first visit" to the facility and feels "stronger, both physically and mentally".

She added: "When I'm climbing, my brain feels 'safe'. My thoughts are quiet and focused."

Gary Bayliss and Ryan Cross set up a men's health group at a Wiltshire climbing centre

In Wiltshire, people are also turning to climbing to improve their mental health.

The Arc, opened in Chippenham in 2022 at a cost of £2.9m, was one of the first climbing centres in the UK to be built from the ground-up, rather than adapted from an existing space.

Two climbers who use The Arc have set up a men's health group who meet every Thursday evening.

One of the group's founders, Gary Bayliss from Corsham, said for him climbing is "like an escape".

He started the group eight months ago with friend Ryan Cross after they both found climbing helped with their own mental health struggles.

Mr Bayliss said the idea behind the group was to make it a "non-pressured environment" where people didn't feel like they "had to talk, or that they were going to be asked questions".

He added that men have come to the group for a variety of reasons some looking for to help "deal with anxiety, when they have struggled to leave the house".

The next step for the group to build relationships with local mental health charities, Mr Bayliss said.