A NEWLY formed group is learning new skills and setting chisel to stone to design and carve two new benches, which will find a home at Farnham Maltings.

The project is part of My Shout, a new project to celebrate ageing and encourage vibrant creativity in older people.

The carving is being hosted at Forest Lodge Garden Centre and will be on display for members of the public to see in the main part of the centre until the end of June.

The group includes people aged up to 85 years, all learning new skills and most of whom are stone-carving for the first time.

Each of the designs reflect and celebrate different aspects of life in Farnham and the vibrant lives of each of the participants.

The stone was sourced and prepared by sculptor and artist Michael Disley, who will have his own work on display at upcoming Chelsea Flower Show.

The stones themselves are Derbyshire gritstone from Grindleford, Derbyshire, and are aged between 250 and 300 million years old.

There are three other projects as part of My Shout including a dance created with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, theatre and film. The theatre and dance pieces will be performed at a special event at the Maltings on Sunday, June 17, (tickets are available from Maltings box

office for £5).

My Shout is part of Celebrating Age, a programme funded by Arts Council England and the Baring Foundation to enable arts and cultural spaces to be more open, positive and welcoming places for older people. My Shout is also funded by Waverley Borough Council.

The My Shout consortium consists of Farnham Maltings, Waverley Borough Council, New Adventures and Age UK Surrey.