Percy Thrower's old greenhouse finds new use

A greenhouse that belonged to gardener and broadcaster Percy Thrower has found a new use by the Men's Sheds Association in Shrewsbury.

The group, which operates across the country, supports men who might be experiencing 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.

Percy Thrower, who lived and worked in Shropshire, became famous in the 1970s and 80s for his appearances on shows such as Gardeners' World and Blue Peter.

His daughter 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 Shrewsbury'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. He said the group was "quite a special place" and 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.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.