Forest Green Rovers Adopts "Woke" Practices, Adorns Changing Room with Houseplants
The environmentally conscious football club has installed over 60 plants in its changing room to promote player well-being, alongside other unconventional initiatives.
Forest Green Rovers, a football club known for its unconventional and environmentally focused approach, has transformed its changing room into a "Bushtucker dressing room"-like environment, filling it with more than 60 houseplants. The club, often labeled the world's most "woke" team, aims to reduce player stress and improve mental health through this naturalistic redesign.
The initiative is a collaboration with the Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland and involves a sports psychologist. According to the club's website, 30% of Britons report that houseplants lower stress levels and restore calm. The club is testing this theory in a high-pressure environment to demonstrate that incorporating greenery need not be a high-stress commitment.
Dr. Josephine Perry, a sports psychologist, stated that living greenery can act as a natural buffer, reducing nervous system arousal and sharpening cognitive abilities, which can lead to better performance. She suggests that adding greenery to high-pressure spaces is a simple habit for managing stress.
Environmentalist owner Dale Vince, who has an estimated net worth of £100 million, has been a driving force behind the club's unique practices. Vince also confirmed that the club is pursuing legal action against Peterborough, seeking £2 million for an alleged illegal approach to their former manager, Robbie Savage. Vince stated the legal process began last week.
Forest Green Rovers has previously implemented several eco-friendly and vegan-centric policies. Their kits are made from recycled, sustainable materials and are certified vegan. The canteen and all food provided to players, staff, and fans are plant-based, with meat completely off the menu. The club's pitch is maintained without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and is cut using solar-powered mowers. A urine filtration system is also used to irrigate the turf.
Plans are in place for a new stadium constructed from timber, designed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any stadium in world football. The club also encourages cycling to matches and provides electric charging points at the ground.
Despite its progressive environmental stance, the club faced criticism earlier this year for discontinuing its women's team. Forest Green Rovers is currently in its third consecutive season in the fifth tier of English football, having been relegated from League One in 2022 after a seven-year stint in the English Football League.