Auchinleck Community Shed have been making a real impact since they formed 18 months ago.

With an Ethos of grown by the community, for the community, the Shed has come on leaps and bounds since it took over a former garden centre to breathe new life into it.

And that they have done. The Shed has 30 members, both male and female, from whom they take a £2 per year Token Membership.

It’s a well-known fact that gardening is good for health and wellbeing as well as physical fitness, and with this in mind, the group hopes that they can play a part in combatting social isolation and loneliness.

Cumnock Chronicle: Ian and Kris Ian and Kris

Tom Andrews, secretary, said: “Every single plant at The Shed is brought on from seeds, cuttings or by the group and we never buy in plants that have been raised elsewhere because that only creates more Co2 emissions.

“We started off small but have gradually increased the vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants that we now grow and sell on cheaply.

“We try to work as organically as we can using Hugelkultur beds, peat-free compost and composting, recycling and re-using are our by words thereby keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum.

“We harvest as much rainwater as we can and we are in talks at the moment to install solar power on the site.

“Members get free produce for themselves and their family thereby tackling poverty and hunger. Our motto is, if you need it take it, if you don’t then leave it to grow for someone else. We also sell on plants to the wider public at a reasonable price and all the money is reinvested back into the project.”

Cumnock Chronicle: Shelby and Marion Cherry Trees ECCShelby and Marion Cherry Trees ECC

There are ambitious plans to develop the community garden further by tending to neglected and overgrown deep beds.

Tom added: “We also have links with Cherry Trees nursery school supplying annual flowers and fruit trees which we replenish throughout the season. We are looking towards having an education children’s corner up at the Shed in the future.”

In the meantime, the Shed are running kids competitions to encourage youngsters to embark on their own gardening journey, with seeds and compost supplied to make the process easier.

Check their Facebook page for more.