“The Gas House has been part of this island for as long as we can remember. To finally see its ground come back to life, with people growing things, playing and spending time together, would mean so much to everyone here.” – Lisa-Marie Muir, Community Development Officer, Shapinsay Development Trust
The land around Shapinsay’s historic Gas House could be transformed into a community garden and heritage mini golf course, after the site was shortlisted for funding through Certas Energy’s Community Bloom Fund. As a small island community, Shapinsay needs votes from across Orkney and beyond to help secure one of two £15,000 grants on offer this year.
The Gas House, a distinctive stone tower in Shapinsay’s historic Balfour Village, has stood as a local landmark for generations. The land around it, however, has been neglected for more than 20 years.
Shapinsay Development Trust wants to bring the site into community ownership and turn the surrounding land into a green space with seating and a seal watching spot, alongside a space where residents can grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Longer term, the Trust also hopes to add a heritage themed mini golf course to the site.
Lisa-Marie Muir, Community Development Officer at Shapinsay Development Trust, explained:
“The land around the Gas House has been a scrap heap for years, right on the edge of our wonderful village. To finally clear it and create a community space, would lift the whole island.”
Click on this link to vote for Shapinsay Development Trust: Community Bloom Fund
Shapinsay Development Trust was founded in 2002 to help tackle depopulation on the island, running an out of hours ferry service, social housing projects and even a community charity shop. The Trust hopes the funding would allow it to clear the site and begin work on the raised beds and growing space, with the heritage mini golf course to follow.
“We’re a small but mighty community and our people like to get stuck in,” Lisa-Marie said.
“We’ve already got a really active horticulture group who would love to help with the growing space, and we know others will be keen to get involved too, from the school kids nearby to our over 50s lunch club.”
The Community Bloom Fund was set up by off-grid energy distributor Certas Energy in 2025 to support grassroots projects that will make a lasting impact. This year there are two £15,000 grants on offer to fund projects that will strengthen local communities and winners will be selected by public vote.
Niki Holt, Marketing Director at Certas Energy, said:
“We launched the Community Bloom Fund hoping to reach local communities across the whole of the UK, as well as our bigger towns and cities, and Shapinsay is a great example of why.
“This community of just 300 people has put together a project with real vision and ambition. We have no doubt it would bolster the local community, providing a wonderful, shared space and bringing beauty back to the heart of the island.”
Voting for the Community Bloom Fund winner is now open and closes at midnight on 8th September.
Click on this link to vote for Shapinsay Development Trust: Community Bloom Fund