New calendar will shed some light on Leith garden retreats

Published on Thursday 17 July 2008 11:04

THE area already boasts dramatic coastal views, several of Scotland's top restaurants, shops galore and a fascinating history.

But now the humble garden shed is to be the star of a new calendar being made to promote the attractions of Leith.

Mugs and T-shirts featuring the sheds have already sold out after attracting interest from as far afield as London.

The Greener Leith group is expanding its range of what it calls "shed-obilia" to include a 2009 calendar.

Alastair Tibbitt, chairman of Greener Leith and himself a proud shed owner, said the merchandise was a light-hearted way to encourage people to get involved in allotment gardening and other green activities.

"There are some interesting-looking sheds across the area that are used for all sorts of things. I've always been interested in sheds and what people do in them. This is a way of bringing that together," he said.

"It's a bit of fun as much as anything else," he added.

The calendar will feature sheds used as welding workshops, animal hutches and home offices alongside more traditional ones. One likely to feature has folding down sides and becomes an exhibition space in good weather.

The calendars will go on sale in local shops and on the Greener Leith website later this year.

Mr Tibbitt said he hoped the collection would make an artistic statement and highlight an alternative vision to Leith from the plush flats and old dockyard images.

He added: "Garden sheds are a great outlet, particularly for people who live in tenements and don't get the chance to have a garden of their own.

"The two main allotments in Leith – at Ferry Road and Leith Links – have a waiting list, and you now see more and more people growing their own vegetables there too."

Stewart Blaik, chairman of Leith Central Community Council, said a revival in sheds could play an important part in cleaning up Leith's tenement back greens.

He said: "I remember a time when there would be sheds on back greens housing tools and toys.

"With a more transient population now it's hard to say what could be done with them, but they are useful assets and I would welcome some more."

Anyone with pictures of sheds in the Leith area should send them to [e-mail].