Percy Thrower's old greenhouse finds new use

A greenhouse that belonged to gardener and broadcaster Percy Thrower has been officially reopened as a home for the Men's Sheds Association in Shrewsbury.

The group, which operates across the country, supports men who might be suffering from loneliness or mental health difficulties and members have spent the past five years moving the greenhouse to its new home.

It used to be in The Quarry park in Shrewsbury and has been rebuilt at the West Midlands Showground.

Margaret Thrower said her father would have been "very proud and very thrilled" to see the greenhouse find a new use.

She was asked to officially open it and said it was lovely to see the rundown structure rebuilt.

"He was a great one to pass on knowledge and this is an absolutely wonderful way of people learning and passing on the knowledge they have gained over the years," she added.

Simon Rouse, from Shrewbury's Men's Shed group, said: "There's a bit of a crisis with men's health.

"Men need support and they need the company of other men and a challenge and distraction and a reminder that life's not over and they've still got a lot to offer."

Members of the group like Phil Bibby helped move and rebuild the greenhouse.

The former engineer joined in 2020, and said the greenhouse was "like tool heaven to me".

It has been equipped with a range of woodworking and metalworking tools, plus a food-preparation area and a forge.

Mr Bibby described it as "quite a special place" and added that the group had come a long way in the past four years.

Shrewsbury Men's Shed has been shortlisted for the UK Men's Shed of the Year award, with the winner due to be announced in the Speaker's Chamber of the House of Commons next Tuesday.