Watch: Oswestry sheds club proves to be a big hit
For some they are a refuge at the bottom of the garden, for others a place to store things which are not allowed in the house, and for others a workshop.
But in one Shropshire town a club set up for men to celebrate their love for their sheds is booming.
The club for older men to undertake activities and socialise in Oswestry is benefiting from the generosity of the local agricultural show committee.
Based at Oswestry Showground, Oswestry Men's Shed club meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm, as well as holding monthly meetings.
Since its inception in August 2014 the number of members has steadily risen, as has the progress they have made.
The Mens Sheds movement started in Australia, when men realised the value of getting together around practical tasks on a regular basis
The Shed concept was first taken up in England by Age Concern Cheshire at Hartford in 2009
There are now more than 950 Sheds clubs in Australia and more than 200 in the UK, with the movement growing fast
Other countries taking on the Mens Sheds movement include Ireland, Denmark, New Zealand and Canada
To find out about the movement and discover how to get involved visit http menssheds.org.uk
But they acknowledge that would not have been possible without a helping hand from the Oswestry Show committee.
The group, which is part of a national movement which aims to engage older men into community activities, is able to stay at the Showground base for five years rent free.
Malcolm Roberts, Oswestry Show chairman, said: "A lot of charity work goes on at Oswestry Show because we're more than happy that we are able to help other organisations or worthy causes as we understand that finances are tough."
Since the group moved into its base that area of the grounds has seen a lot of change with the group completing extensive ground clearance work in the woodland area of the Showground to make way for them and their nearly completed shed.
Hilbre Jones, Oswestry Men's Shed treasurer, said: "We've been extremely lucky, not only for our lads' hard work but also for consent from Malcolm and the show committee in developing the ground here for our shed.
"This wouldn't have been possible without them and we've seen a lot of progress in a relatively short period of time."
Mr Jones said the group is "dedicated" to the wellbeing of men.
Men's Sheds are places where older men can meet, undertake some form of activity in the company of others, and find friendship and companionship.
This might be through workshop activities such as woodwork, metalwork or some form of engineering.
Although the Oswestry group has benefited from the goodwill of the show committee, it is a two-way street as Shed members do their bit at the Showground by helping with some of the maintenance work on-site, as well as assisting on show days. Last year the group helped out with stewarding the car parks during the annual Oswestry Show, as well as selling catalogues.
Mr Roberts added: "They're here for five years rent free but in return they help and support us by doing some minor maintenance work and helping out on show day.
"It's all about working together really, we help them, they help us."
The Men's Shed movement began in Australia to advise and improve the health of men across the country. They normally operate on a local level in the community, promoting social interaction and aim to increase the quality of life.
The movement then spread to Ireland in 2011 and then Scotland before spreading across England – including the creation of the Oswestry branch in 2014.
They are places of skill-sharing and informal learning, of individual pursuits and community projects, of purpose, achievement and social interaction. The essence of a Shed is not a building, which some don't have, but the network of relationships between the members.
For more information about Oswestry Men's Shed contact Hilbre Jones on 07821 357356 or email omshed@btinternet.com
