More than eight in 10 adults have taken up a new hobby during lockdown to boost their mental or physical health, with walking, reading and exercising the most popular pastimes.

A study of 2,000 adults found more than a third have taken up a new activity since the start of the pandemic, with 81% choosing one with some form of mindfulness to help keep them calm.

And 75% want any hobby to involve some exercise.

It also emerged 82% chose a hobby because it was good for their wellbeing, with gardening, cooking and baking also popular.

Growing fruit and vegetables were also among the top 40 hobbies people have chosen because they have a positive impact on their health.

More than half of adults count gardening as a hobby, with 70% spending more time sprucing up their outdoor space during the lockdown than ever before.

Green-fingered adults enjoy the physical benefit without feeling like they’re exercising (54%), seeing their achievements such as plants growing (50%) and creating a calming, inviting space (46%).

And while 35% of those polled via OnePoll opt to garden on their own, 46% do so with their partner and 18% with their child.

It also emerged that during the average week, people typically spend two hours and 14 minutes on exercise-based activities, an hour and 13 minutes baking and 1 hour and 28 minutes gardening.