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Wellsford Community Garden is looking to broaden its appeal by setting up a Men’s Shed at its School Road grounds.
Andrew McLennan, who manages and maintains the site’s gardens, greenhouses and outbuildings, says having somewhere for people to meet and make things would be a natural fit with all the gardening activities.
“We’ve had the idea for a long time, it’s been on the back burner for a while,” he says.
“We’re always looking at ways to involve the community and this one has potential.
“It would be amazing to have a workshop where things could get fixed, or people could make planter boxes, garden art, anything – there’s so much scope.”
McLennan is keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved to see if the shed idea is viable.
“At this point, we’re just seeing if there are people out there who would enjoy having a place to make stuff, fix stuff and hang out,” he says.
“We don’t need a whole lot of people to start with, just five or six, and we’re totally open to how it might unfold.”
McLennan says the community garden, which is part of the Coast to Coast Hauora Trust land at 72 School Road, is ideally placed for a Men’s Shed, with easy access and plenty of parking.
The idea is the latest project in a string of initiatives McLennan has introduced since he took over three years ago. Since then, he has cleared the site, revitalised beds and allotments, grown produce for foodbanks and hosted weekly visits from the local school and kindy.
Anyone interested in the Men’s Shed – which would be open to any gender – should call 09 423 6006 or visit Wellsford Community Garden or Andrew McLennan on Facebook.
