Have you herd? New farm gym in Flintshire offers down-to-earth classes to boost community health & wellbeing

A new fitness facility located on a working Flintshire farm is cultivating a new physical and mental wellbeing experience for North Wales residents.

Located at Pen y Garth Farm, on the Mold-Denbigh road, Farm Fit Club incorporates farming elements and the great outdoors into its workouts to boost mental health, celebrate North Wales’ unique scenery and bring the community together.

Farmer and founder, Robin Jones, from Llansannan, has combined his lifelong experience working on the family farm with his education as a PT to deliver a whole – and wholesome – new way of working out for those seeking alternative exercise experiences. Along with his sidekick, “PT Lucy”, his golden retriever, Robin has grown a fitness hub suitable for all ages and abilities. With eight classes currently running throughout the week, which include tyre flipping, hay bale- rolling, farmers carries and even tractor pulling, Robin advocates that you really do reap what you sow.

The 32 year-old business owner said: “It’s always been my dream to set up a new gym which offers something completely different from the norm. At Farm Fit Club, we’re all about community, wellness and positivity, supporting one another whether that’s with events or personal bests or weight loss journeys. The support I’ve received from the community is amazing and I’m so proud to say we’ve got a fantastic core membership already.

“What started out as a vision then developed into me and a couple of mates testing things out in the barn last summer. Fast forward a year and where we’re at now is just incredible. We now have 80 regular members, a thriving community of people from all over Flintshire, Denbighshire and even Cheshire, and we recently exhibited at Caerwys Agricultural Show where we witnesses lots of support and interest from the community. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store.”

According to Robin, Farm Fit Club’s inclusive and supportive environment is what sets it apart from other gyms in the area. He said: “Everyone is on the same team here – we ask that our members leave their ego at the cattle grid. It’s been a privilege to nurture some of our regular members along on their fitness journeys and the way things are going, we’ll be able to offer more and more classes and welcome in more people who want to have fun, get fit, and make friends. We’re all aware of the benefits of physical exercise, and I’m dedicated to helping people achieve their goals, but I think its crucial in today’s day and age that we focus on mental health and wellbeing as the two go hand-in-hand.”

As well as offering friendly and accessible circuit sessions throughout the week, Robin is also offering 121 PT sessions to help boost confidence among those who feel intimidated by group classes or the gym environment. He said: “Everyone should have access to an environment where they feel empowered to perform at their best – whether that’s to build muscle, lose weight, or increase fitness levels.”

In a bid to bring people together, the social enterprise also offers personalised programmes and visits to schools, special needs institutions, and local sporting teams. Robin said: “We’re not just a gym – we’re a community hub, and I’m committed to planting the seeds for a better future for the younger generation and community as a whole. I’m looking forward to working with some schools to offer alternative education, and we’ve already had fantastic support from both Cilcain Young Farmers, Whitford Young Farmers, and some local football clubs, who came along for a personalised group session. Our next goal is to help local sports clubs with their pre-season training programmes, and offer team bonding packages for local corporates.”

In a further bid to embrace the open Welsh countryside and continue its commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, Farm Fit Club will also be applying for funding to develop a trail running track, a community café and other holistic facilities.

For more information, visit https://www.farmfitclub.org