Tea Break: Tania MacLeod

In our fortnightly feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This week, we welcome Tania MacLeod - community volunteer, entrepreneur and super Granny!

A sunny day at the polytunnel

Please introduce yourself...

I’m Tania. I work at the Sir E Scott school canteen and clean the Tarbert Community Hall. I’m on the Board of Harris Voluntary Service and I do Tarbert in Bloom. My business is Isle of Harris Soap Company – and I have seven grand-children with an eighth due in April.

How did you get where you are today?

I grew up in Nigeria, then Largs, Hayes in Middlesex and finally Florida. I was a bit of a nomad, but I always knew I would come back to Scotland.

My husband was born and raised here and I moved to Harris when we got married in 1988 – and have been here ever since. This is the longest I’ve lived anywhere. I absolutely loved the island as soon as I saw it.

I raised three children and worked mainly in Stornoway with Ardseileach Day Centre and NCH Action for Children. I started a company Thoughts to Threads, did a lot of sewing and craft markets, then I got a kit for making soap. My eldest grandson and I did it, and that was me - hooked on soap making.

I want to say a huge thank you to the Harris community because they have supported Tarbert in Bloom, Isle of Harris Soap and more. The community here is great.

What’s the story of Tarbert in Bloom?

Myself and Jocelyn Corderoy met in the Tarbert Community Hall garden. For Jocelyn, the idea came because there was nowhere nice to sit and have a cup of coffee, and for me, it was a response to my three-year-old grandson, who came home and told me that the village was disgusting. We said: ‘Let’s get together and see what we can do’.

We started on the flower pots that the Girl Guides had filled before Covid – and it grew from there. With the help of the Western Isles Lottery, who supplied plants, we re-planted them and started to think about how we could make other improvements.

When we couldn’t get funding for grass cutting, we asked businesses, landowners and community councils for donations and they were a huge help. If we want village improve-ments to last long term, everybody has to be involved and do their part.

We have between 15 and 20 volun-teers on our books now, and they get involved with everything from planting to bench repairs.

What’s next for you and your projects?

Tarbert in Bloom is going to keep getting areas cleaned up. Our goal is to get the village to a point where we’re maintaining it rather than clearing new areas. This Spring we’re focusing on the area between Scott Road and MacQueen Street, getting the old shelter taken down and a new shelter in. The North Harris Trust will help with paths and Hebridean Housing Partnership are looking to fix area around beginning of the path. We’re hoping to make it a lovely place for people to walk and play.

I’m also hoping to get Isle of Harris Soap back up and running fully this year with Instagram and Facebook.

What about Children in Need...

I want Harris to have a really big celebration and raise lots of money for Children in Need this year. It’s not until the end of November, but my plan is to involve the whole community and for every group that works with children to do some fundraising that is child led – perhaps the children could be the referee and linesman for a Harris FC football match. There will be a café and activities in the community centre on the Friday and a big reveal of the total. There’s plenty of time to plan, but please do get in touch if you would like to be involved.

What’s your favourite Harris place?

Hushinish beach. I have such good memories of when the kids were young and we had a lovely dog called Beth. One day the kids were in the water swimming and this seal popped up and sat there watching them.

How do you spend your free time?

Growing plants and veg. I’ve got a big polytunnel and I will do anything that helps getting kids involved in growing things.

Tea break time. What’s on the menu?

A cup of tea, with milk and one sugar please - and it will have to be a Jammy Dodger.

- Find Tarbert in Bloom and Isle of Harris All Natural Soap Company on Facebook.