From the yawning spaces of what were once noisy and dusty warehouses, old school classrooms and unused herring factories, a sawmill, an old ski hut and Victorian railway waiting rooms, comes hammering, drilling and the clatter of busy men hard at work. Through the doors of Scotland’s thriving network of Men’s Sheds have emerged countless bird tables, planters, garden benches - and just about everything in between. There have been handmade boats and repaired clocks, lovingly carved wooden ornaments, intricate models of planes and trains, pots of honey and garden sculptures, upcycled furniture and that much-loved shed-built classic, go-karts.
Scotland has a network of more than 200 Men's Sheds (Image: Scottish Men's Shed Association) Having started around a decade ago as places to go for men of a certain age and at a loose end, Men’s Sheds have become a vital support system for widowers, veterans and any man from 18 to 80 and beyond looking for a bit of company, conversation and camaraderie. Now as the organisation behind Scotland’s 204 Men’s Sheds marks its tenth anniversary and celebrates International Men’s Day on November 19 with a series of open days, it appears the movement has touched far more aspects of Scottish life than was ever really expected. Including, according to Jason Schroeder, who helped launch Scotland’s first Men’s Shed, saving at least a few marriages.
Read more by Sandra Dick: The amazing - and not so bird-brained - world of nests Scotland.
