Men’s Shed planters for Fort William Good Grub Growing Project

The Men’s Shed group in Fort William have been busy making large bespoke planting troughs for the Good Grub growing project set up by staff working in the town’s Charles Kennedy Building.

The squad of handymen, who meet three days a week at the Blar Mhor Industrial Site, delivered the planters earlier today (Friday 5 April) and they are all set up to take pride of place in the buildings courtyard area.

The Good Grub Growing project aims to promote a sense of wellbeing and more sustainable lifestyle choices by delivering a food growing initiative utilising public realm space located at the new Charles Kennedy Building, Fort William.   The project aims to encourage the sharing of knowledge and skills, promote the growing of healthy food and to reduce the carbon footprint. 

Members of staff working in the building identified the food growing project as a way of bringing people together, to be out in the fresh air and grow fruit and vegetables  to promote healthier food choices and reduce the carbon footprint.

After staff successfully secured a grant from the Pebble Trust to help set the initiative up the Fort William Men’s Shed were commissioned to make the planting troughs which have been designed to be fully wheelchair accessible.

Assistant Ward Manager Emma Tayler who has led the project said: “Good Grub is already developing links and relationships with the community. We are all thrilled that the Men’s Shed agreed to take on the making of the planters and appreciate all the work that has gone into them. We would also like to thank the Lochaber Environmental group for their valuable support in getting the project going.”

The wood used to make the Potting Station was some of the wood kindly donated to The Men’s Shed by the family of the late Bobby Corson, Undertaker,from Mallaig.

Gordon Gair from the Men’s Shed Group said: “We were delighted to receive the commission to make the planters and everyone has been busy to make sure the job was completed in time for the planting season. Working together on such a project has been a great experience and we look forward to seeing the planters in a few months’ time when they are filled with fruit and vegetables.”

A community orchard has just been established through the re-use of redundant fruit trees from old school sites and staff within the building will be taking measures to make their own compost for use in the troughs next year.

The initiative is accessible to the 60+ on site staff members from a range of agencies and community groups who would like to engage with the project.

Emma added: The plan is to develop the public space so that staff on-site and community members can learn new skills to help develop their own growing projects back home and elsewhere in the community.” 

The Men’s Shed group meets in Fort William every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 4pm at the Blar Mhor Industrial Site and any new members will be made very welcome.