Do you want to hone your building and repair skills? Would you like to practise these skills in a supportive workshop environment, while making new friends? If so, why not check out the new Houghton Men’s Shed at Gosling Sike? It’s the first Men’s Shed in Carlisle and the fifth in Cumbria.

Men’s Sheds provide a chance to learn practical skills, as well as build friendships and boost your wellbeing. The new Men’s Shed at Gosling Sike will be open every Friday, starting on September 22, from 10.00am to 12.00 noon. You can drop-in or stay for all of the two-hour workshops. Anyone aged 18 and above is welcome to come along – no experience necessary. We'll provide training and induction on the tools (along with the essential tea, coffee and biscuits!).

Gosling Sike in Houghton is home to our extensive wildflower nursery and seed bank, and is a busy hub for our volunteering, training and community events. The Men’s Shed is set in the midst of the stunning wildlife garden and the extensive nature reserve, including wetland, hay meadows and woodland.

Adam McGinley, Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Manager of Gosling Sike, explains why he wanted to set up a Men’s Shed at this site: “We wanted to offer the local community a regular activity to support their wellbeing. Coming to our Men’s Shed will provide opportunities to be creative, build, repair and socialise with like-minded people, in tranquil, natural surroundings. This is the first Men’s Shed in Carlisle and it complements the existing volunteering opportunities at Gosling Sike.”

Some of the materials for the workshops are donated or recycled, some are provided by Rebuild which takes surplus materials from construction sites and put them to good use. Maisie Hunt from Rebuild said of Houghton’s Men’s Shed: "It’s a great idea, and we’re very happy to be supporting a project that will be a really useful and needed community asset.”

Booking isn’t necessary for each session, but please let Adam and his team know if you’re new to the group, so they can arrange an induction and introduce you to safe ways of working in the workshop. Contact Adam and the Gosling Sike team at volunteering@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk  

Houghton Men's Shed is part of UK Men's Sheds Association. The concept of Men’s Sheds started in Australia in 1999 and has now spread around the world, with 2,000 Sheds in 2020. The sheds are mainly grassroots community activities that come about in response to shared needs. These have mostly been for men to access tools, workbenches, skills and opportunities to make and mend in the company of others.

Gosling Sike is situated on the edge of Carlisle, in the village of Houghton, and is open all year round. Postcode CA3 0LD.