A NEW community interest company encouraging men in Okehampton to get outdoors and active will launch this Saturday.

Okehampton Men in Sheds (OMIS) has set up a shed as a meeting place and activity workshop aimed at men, generally retired, from the town and nearby villages. The idea is men can get together at the shed for light working activities while having the benefit of some social interaction.

Potential activities include cleaning and restoring old tools, small woodworking projects and making signs and things of use for other voluntary groups in the town.

Similar Men in Sheds projects are springing up all over the country. There have long been discussions about getting one up and running in Okehampton. After a long search failed to find a suitable existing shed, it was decided to build one on land at the Okehampton Community Garden site on Fatherford Lane.

The shed is now nearly complete and has been built from scratch entirely by volunteers.

Stephen Cook, one of the organisers, said: ‘We have landed on our feet with a spectacular setting— the shed has a veranda which looks out at a panoramic view of Dartmoor. I think a lot of tea will be drunk on that veranda!

‘The project aims to bring men together to use their skills for the good of the community; to provide a ‘man cave’ where things can be made, mended and adapted.

‘There comes a time in every man’s life when the call of the shed becomes strong: that is why Men in Sheds is a worldwide phenomenon! We hope to be properly operational by the late summer, but anyone is welcome to come up during the build phase. We are there most Wednesdays and Saturdays.’

To launch the shed to the community, the group is holding a barbecue on Saturday, July 8 from 3.30pm. Pre-booking is necessary, to attend call 01837 659297. There is limited parking on site and the Okehampton Men in Sheds team is asking anyone planning to attend to not park in the nearby estate as it would be unfair to the community garden’s neighbours.