The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Men’ s group secure lease for orchard
APerthshire village Men’s Shed has secured a 15-year lease to grow a community orchard. Stanley and District Men’s Shed signed a lease with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) for the project at Stanley Mills.
This will allow members to get involved in practical tasks outdoors, including planting trees and hedgerows and maintaining the grounds.
Plans for the orchard have been in the making for several years.
Stanley Men’s Shed chairman Alex Cockburn said: “We have already planted 71 trees and are planting another 50 in the next three months.
“We have set up picnic benches for visitors for when they go on a walk at the Tay.”
Mr Cockburn added: “We are over the moon – it has been a long time coming. We went through the hoops.”
Historic Environment Scotland says the signing of the lease will help support members of the Men’s Shed with their mental and physical wellbeing.
Sustainable Place manager Pauline Megson said: “Since taking on an empty building from HES for their workshop, the Men’s Shed has gone from strength to strength, providing a place where they could craft things and share skills as their membership has continued to grow.
“Now, taking a lease on land next to the workshop and creating an orchard at Stanley Mills has enabled the group to continue to meet safely outdoors during Covid-19, planting fruit trees and hedgerows, keeping bees and looking after the grounds.
“This project is a brilliant example of how our Properties in Care can be used by communities, helping to improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing and reduce social isolation.”
She added: “We are delighted to see a long lease agreed and signed by
Stanley and District Men’s Shed and look forward to seeing the fruits of their labours.”
The lease is the latest good news for Stanley’s Men’s Shed. The group secured its own premises in 2018 after two years.
It had been operating from the village bowling club but outgrew the premises when numbers increased.
It moved into the East Lodge at Stanley Mills in October 2018 when it was officially opened by John Swinney MSP.
Mr Cockburn said: “I think it’s really important for men to have a place in the world that’s just their own. It has been popular.
“Anyone over 18 can come, but it’s mostly retired men in their late 50s and upwards who come from Stanley, Bankfoot, Luncarty and Murthly.”
Anyone who wants to get involved in the Men’s Shed can get in touch at stanleyanddistrictmensshed@gmail.com or on 01738 828606.