Inverurie & District Men’s Shed
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Background/History
In 2014, two Inverurie residents, Archie Peebles and Graeme Shepherd, visited the first Men’s Shed in Scotland at Westhill. This was followed by a meeting at Gordon House, Inverurie where a group formed a committee and so Inverurie and District Men’s Shed (IDMS) was born. Initially, the group met at Inverurie Community Centre. With help from the SMSA and Aberdeenshire Council, a permanent home for Inverurie Men’s Shed was found at an industrial unit in Harlaw Way, along with an area for a polytunnel.
In November 2015, IDMS finally reached stage 4 in the asset transfer process – the lease was agreed, and they had the final handover. A grant from Grampian Health Board allowed IDMS to purchase a polytunnel and whilst the new Shed was being kitted out, the members met in the polytunnel.
During their first year, through grants and donations, the Shed raised £51,000. This was used to buy machinery etc for the workshop as well as two portacabins for a social area. The polytunnel was then divided into individual plots for Shed members. Unfortunately, it was extensively vandalised a few times and had to be abandoned in 2017.
IDMS was on the lookout for somewhere to site a polytunnel. After searching throughout Inverurie, one of their Trustees, Alistair Smith was introduced to George Ross (J G Ross Bakers) who had a field available. At 3.5 acres this was big enough not only for a polytunnel but also for allotments. A 15-year lease was signed in 2019, and they were ready to go. As we were in the midst of the Covid epidemic, three Shedders, Graeme Shepherd, Henry Wilson and Murray Main formed a bubble and set about creating the allotment spaces. Support from the Council and local businesses contributed to the provision of a car park and security fencing. The completed allotment area occupies one third of the leased field leaving the remainder for development in 2022.
Achievements
This last year has continued to be difficult with the Covid hangover however IDMS’s biggest achievement has been the expansion of the allotment project to fill the remaining two thirds of the field. As well as 40 allotments, which are available not only for Shed members, but also for the use of local residents, they have now planted fruit trees and bushes to create an orchard and have planted Willow in a large area of the field not suitable for crops. The aim, to provide willow cane for crafting and basket making. Finally, IDMS created an area of 1.5 acres, called The Howe Farm. This was set up as a cooperative to help low-income families grow their own vegetables. Many of the ‘farmers’ at The Howe knew nothing about growing fruit and vegetables, but under the guidance of the Men’s Shed, this turned out to be a very successful venture. This was their greatest achievement last year, creating an exciting, practical opportunity to help Inverurie residents who may be struggling to buy food.
Challenges/Barriers
Post-covid, IDMS found it difficult to attract Shedders back to the Shed. In the same way that many workers had found alternative employment during Covid, several of their former regular members had found alternative pastimes to fill the void created by the Shed’s enforced lockdown. To help us determine what they could do to attract a greater level of participation from members, they undertook a survey. From the returns, many commented that the Shed premises was simply not big enough. The size of the Shed does limit the number of Shedders that they can accommodate at any one time, in both the workshop and social area. It also limits the size and number of projects that they can take on. The limited premises is undoubtedly the biggest barrier to the Shed’s growth, and they are proactive seeking an alternative site through Aberdeenshire Council.
Impact on Local Community
When the Shed allocated the allotments, they were delighted to receive an application from the local primary school. It is very satisfying to see primary school children taking an interest in vegetable growing. They visit regularly with their teacher who explains all about growing different vegetables.
Where possible, IDMS try to become involved with the local community. They have assisted Inverurie Business Improvement District (BID), by manufacturing a substantial, stepped platform which is used at events such as the Christmas lights switch on, the Queen’s Jubilee weekend and other events in Inverurie Market Place.
The Shed took an active part at the weekend of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in Inverurie. On the Friday evening, 40 classic cars were on show and IDMS arranged for tractors through the seventy years of the Queen’s reign to be on show at the Garioch Heritage Centre. Of course, their tractor, ‘Elvis’, from the allotments was also proudly on show. On the Saturday, the allotments were open to members of the public allowing visitors to walk through the allotments and farm. They had a few of the vintage tractors from Friday evening, stationary engines and some old farming machines on show. (Although old, a few are still used down at The Howe Farm beside the allotments). On Sunday, IDMS had a stall selling their wares and promoting the Men’s Shed. It also displayed a range of tools from across the 70 years of the Queen’s reign and had memorabilia portrait plaques of the Queen, made by a Shedder.
On request from Inverurie Rotary Associates, IDMS members dismantled a friendship bench at the redundant St Andrew’s School site. The substantial bench has been repaired, reconfigured and painted in rainbow colours and will be sited in Inverurie as a meeting hub in a place designated by Aberdeenshire Council.
IDMS received a donation of a defibrillator through a partnership with the SMSA and St Andrews First Aid for siting at the allotments. As the defibrillator is housed in a cabinet outside, the Shed was in a bit of a dilemma as it had to be stored above 8 degrees centigrade but they had no access to electricity! IDMS applied to the National Lottery Community Fund and were awarded £1,860 to buy solar panels, a wind generator, battery and associated wiring to connect to the defibrillator cabinet to keep it at the correct temperature. It is believed that this is the only ‘off grid’ defibrillator in Scotland. The defibrillator is now part of the ‘circuit’ and can be used by anyone in the community.
Leading Light
It is impossible to highlight one person or particular group who has made Inverurie & District Men’s Shed what it is today. The hard work by those who attend the Farmers Market to sell items made at the Shed and selling second-hand tools. The guys who carry out projects for the community and the team who oversee the allotments. The success of the Shed is due to the dedication of all of their members.
However, one member, who sadly is no longer with us does deserves a special mention – Alistair Smith. Visitors to the allotments are welcomed by a dedication plaque ‘Alistair’s Dream’. Why Alistair’s dream? Alistair Smith was a founding member and Trustee. After their polytunnel was destroyed by vandals in 2017/18, Alistair, a keen gardener, tirelessly searched Inverurie for another site for the polytunnel and allotments. He was introduced to George Ross, of J G Ross Bakers, and negotiated a lease of a 3.5 acre field in Old Port Road. Sadly, Alistair died on 22nd July 2019 without seeing his dream come to fruition. Thanks to Alistair’s determination, they now have an area for their allotments and polytunnel and allotments for the wider community. Alistair was well known in the community and a local pharmacist, Gallen Will, asked the Shed to make a bench in his memory. The bench was completed last year and installed outside the pharmacy. Gallen made a generous donation to the Shed and has also added a plaque to the bench. The plaque reads “In Memory of Alistair Smith, founding member of Inverurie Men’s Shed. Provided by Will Chemist, Inverurie, Crafted by Inverurie Men’s Shed 2021.”
Tell a story of a time when your Shed has gone above and beyond
‘Shedders’ fully appreciate that the Men’s Shed movement about is primarily about helping with men’s health. But, we wanted to take the Inverurie & District Men’s Shed to another level?
Yes, we are a Men’s Shed, but how could we help families in the area?
Research shows that gardening can help with both physical and mental health. Even after the success of the allotments in 2021, there was still 1.5 acres of field left. The Shed couldn’t have allotments on it as it was on a flood plain. It was the best of agricultural land but what to do with it?
One Sunday night, Trustee Graeme Shepherd settled down to watch BBC Countryfile and on the programme, there was a story about a community farm and that’s where the idea of their own such farm was born. IDMS advertised for families and individuals from the local community to join the cooperative and at the present time they have eight members. At this point, the project was named “THE HOWE COMMUNITY FARM”.
IDMS received a donation of £1,000 from Inverurie Environment to help set the project up and still have some left so they have now started planning for next year.
A local potato merchant donated 550kg of seed potatoes and they ended up planting 0.5 acres of potatoes. Also planted at The Howe are strawberries, turnips, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, Brussel sprouts, leeks and cauliflower. Additionally, on the flood plain, they have planted 500+ willow to produce willow cane for crafting and basket making. IDMS has also created an orchard with apple and plum trees, gooseberries, blackberries etc. As they have no mains water, they set up a pump to take water from the river Ury nearby to fill 4 x 1000 litre tanks for all to use when needed.
All this would not have been possible without the help of their trusty friend, Elvis, their 1954 Ferguson tractor and their collection of working, vintage machinery.
The individuals and families working at The Howe can help themselves to the produce. To assist families in the wider community, excess produce is donated to Garioch Community Kitchen and to Grampian Opportunities Community Larder. Produce is also available at the gate, where anyone in the community can take what they want and pay what they can.
The project provides an excellent opportunity to meet others and, to further encourage allotment holders and users at The Howe to get to know each other, we arranged a summer BBQ on site. It was definitely an enjoyable afternoon, and it was clear that everyone would like it to be an annual event.
As a group, Inverurie & District Men’s Shed is proud of its relationship with the local community and particularly how this amazing initiative is helping to supply lower income families with a wide variety of food produce grown by themselves.
Future Plans
Following a members’ survey, IDMS is actively looking for larger premises and are in regular contact with Aberdeenshire Council as the lack of space discourages members and also limits the size of projects they can undertake. To attract new members, IDMS has already advertised the Shed on various Facebook sites, and we will be having an open day for residents to come along to see what a Men’s Shed is all about. The Shed hopes that by opening an additional day per week towards the end of October, to offer soup at lunchtime and play games etc. in the afternoon, will encourage new and old Shedders along. Further, within the scope of their limited accommodation, they would like to restart music, srt and cribbage groups that were active prior to lockdown as well as exploring interest in additional group activities. IDMS will also continue to attract local residents to become members of The Howe Farm Co-operative.