PICTURES: Cromarty Firth Men's Shed ready to look forward as group joins Milton Woodland Community Trust in celebrating success of five-year campaign in Easter Ross
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AN ambitious Ross-shire group keen to reach out and help its local community is this weekend set to celebrate a milestone that allows it to look forward to a brighter future.
Milton Community Woodland and log cabins have been brought back into community ownership after a five-year campaign.
An open day and barbecue are planned on Saturday to celebrate the development described as "a huge weight of my shoulders" by Cromarty Firth Men's Shed secretary, David Chambers.
The group has been credited with improving the mental and physical wellbeing of its community-minded members who use a workshop for a variety of DIY projects.
Mr Chambers said of the men's shed project: "It makes a big difference to my life and that of others.
"The whole idea is that it's as much about mental wellbeing as anything else.It's not just about what we make.It's mainly older men and it's a chance for them to meet and sometimes talk about their problems. Some of us have got to know each other quite well and there's a chance to support each other."
The group is keen to welcome visitors and had planned a special Christmas event around the cabin before the pandemic prompted a cancellation.The cabin has been used for gatherings such as an Alness and Invergordon Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, also instrumental in bringing people together.
Mr Chambers said: "We are gradually getting known. If someone thinks this set up might benefit them mentally, we welcome anyone over the age of 18 who is able to look after themselves or is with a carer who can do so. We don't want to turn anyone away."
He added: "It feels like a huge weight of my shoulders. There was always the concern that someone might buy it. We now need to negotiate a long-term lease for the use of the workshop. Then we can really start to do things.
"We want to work with the Milton Woodland Community Trust to make sure the cabins are used again. It's one thing to get it going and another to keep it going."
He revealed a long-term ambition to become self-sustaining by going off grid using solar power.
The scheme also benefited from a £3000 Youth and Philanthropy Initiative which will be used for power tools and a wood-turning lathe.
To find out more about the group and the open day, which runs between 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, see the Cromarty Firth Men's Shed Facebook page.
Mr Chambers said of the community ownership: "The beauty of it now is that we can start to look forward."
