Analysis: as well as promoting health and wellbeing, men's sheds are also proving to be good places to address environmental issues
By Carol Power and Ray O'Connor, UCC
The men's shed movement originated in Australia when the idea of the solitary backyard shed was reimagined as a communal meeting place for men to meet and interact. Since the establishment of Ireland's first men’s shed in Tipperary in 2009, the movement has spread rapidly. With approximately 450 sheds, Ireland (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) now has the highest number of men’s sheds per capita worldwide
Research has highlighted the positive role of men’s sheds in fostering social inclusion and wellbeing. The 'health by stealth’ approach aims to promote awareness about health issues and to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of participants through everyday social interaction. The shed environment is also conducive to men’s engagement with more structured health promotion programmes, such as the Sheds for Life initiative, developed by the Irish Men’s Sheds Association in 2016 in collaboration with policymakers and health promotion organisations.
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From the Irish Men's Sheds Association, what goes on in a men's shed?
Since 2009, men’s sheds have become woven into the fabric of community life in Ireland, contributing to both environmental and social sustainability. In 2019 the Irish Men’s Sheds Association was one of 12 organisations designated as Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) champions by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. The set of 17 global goals agreed by the United Nations in 2015 seeks to address environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, and social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and health and wellbeing.
The Irish initiative seeks to promote the idea that the goals are not abstract. It looks to embed awareness about sustainable development goals in everyday life and highlight examples of how businesses, voluntary groups and individuals can play their part. While the primary purpose of men’s sheds is to create a meeting place within communities for men, our research shows that activities in many sheds frequently focus on tasks and projects that promote environmental sustainability.
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From RTÉ News, Joseph Okoh reports from Priorswood men's shed about members' fears over the cost of living crisis
Our all-island survey of men’s sheds revealed that 73% of sheds have engaged in making ‘bug hotels’ and nesting boxes for birds and bats, making this one of the most common activities undertaken. These projects evolve from the types of activities already pursued in the sheds, such as woodwork, metalwork and gardening.
They often originate as ways to make use of waste timber rather than as biodiversity projects per se. For most sheds, these projects, which support climate action and biodiversity, simply provide a work-based activity within sheds, around which greater social interaction, integration and skill sharing can occur.
Over half of the sheds surveyed undertake craft projects that make use of materials that might otherwise go to landfill. Timber is frequently repurposed for the construction of items such as nesting boxes, window boxes, planters, picnic tables and benches. Smaller scraps are used for items such as stakes to support plants in gardens. Initiatives such as repairing items, upcycling, reusing or recycling materials to give them a new lease of life, reduce waste and foster sustainable production and consumption.
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From RTÉ One News in 2020, a men's shed in Waterford is helping people in direct provision learn new work skills
This promotes more sustainable consumption and production and links to the desired transition from a linear economy - where items are bought, used and disposed of - to a circular economy based on reuse and recycling. It also reinvigorates traditional skillsets, which are at risk of being lost as society relies more on mass-produced, machine-based manufacturing. It shows that men’s sheds play an important role in preserving and passing on artisan crafts and skills.
Through these activities, many participants in men’s sheds are developing their own awareness and understanding of environmental challenges and how they can make a difference. Increasingly, shed activities have rippled out beyond the sheds, promoting greater awareness and pro-environmental behaviour in the wider community. They have generated greater public awareness of the need to reuse and recycle and to care for the local environment.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland in 2017, Barry Sheridan from the Irish Men's Shed's Association, and TP O'Gorman from Kilbeggan men's shed on how the movement encourages friendship, well-being and mental health
Demand within communities for biodiversity-enhancing products made in men’s sheds, such as nesting boxes , has led to a demand for the production of these types of items on a more significant scale. Men’s sheds have become a ‘go-to’ resource in communities where individuals, other community and voluntary organisations, and even businesses, seek the help of the men’s shed.
There is significant potential for developing men’s sheds as agents of pro-environmental endeavours within communities. Some sheds are keen to set more ambitious goals with more structured biodiversity projects. They are eager to play their part in addressing the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Research also shows that spending time in nature can have positive effects on wellbeing, which aligns with key health and wellbeing priorities for the men’s shed movement. There is scope for men’s sheds to build on their current role in inspiring communities to adopt pro-environmental behaviours, while remaining true to their participant-led ethos and core objective of fostering men’s health and wellbeing.
This article is based on research funded by the Irish Research Council’s New Foundations scheme.
Dr Carol Power is a lecturer at Cork University Business School and the Centre for Co-operative Studies at UCC. Dr Ray O'Connor is a lecturer in the Department of Geography at UCC.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
