A ’Sit and Chat’ bench has been installed in the grounds of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) at Garey-ny-Cloie (Gardens of Play) in St John’s.

A number of benches and picnic tables were installed across the island last year by Compassionate Isle of Man - a community initiative working within the auspices of Hospice Isle of Man.

’Chat Benches’ were first introduced in the United Kingdom by Allison Owens-Jones from Cardiff, who laminated cards reading ’Happy to Chat’ and began tying them to benches in parks around her home city.

Her work created a buzz on social media, leading the Senior Citizen Liaison Team charity to engage with both Avon and Somerset Police and Gwent Police, who installed permanent benches across their areas.

Alongside Mrs Owens-Jones, Detective Sergeant Ashley Jones of Avon and Somerset Police, helped the movement gain further traction around the world.

The Sit and Chat benches in the island have been carved and locally crafted by Peter Metcalf and are recognisable by either their purple and yellow paint (on recycled benches) or as new hardwood benches with plaques.

They are designed to be places where people can sit if they wish to strike up a conversation with others, with the hopes it will ease isolation.

The new bench at DEFA is an initiative between Hospice Isle of Man and UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man, which is located at DEFA.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’Garey ny Cloie is a beautiful place to visit and somewhere people come to find tranquillity and connect with nature.

’The addition of the bench will benefit those visiting alone and seeking someone to chat to, briefly, to brighten their day.’

The newly installed bench in St John’s was commissioned on behalf of Manx Telecom by Isle of Man Newspapers, who have arranged for a number of Sit and Chat benches to be placed around the island with plaques to recognise their ’In the Spirit of Community Kindness’ event partners - Manx Telecom, Standard Bank, Keystone Law, Microgaming, PokerStars, Manx Co-op and Think Manx.

The ’Spirit of Community Kindness’ event was organised by Isle of Man Newspapers and held last September at the Gaiety Theatre.

Its aim was to celebrate key workers and unsung heroes that supported our island community during the first lockdown. Manx Telecom were the lead sponsor for the campaign, and CEO Gary Lamb said the benches would provide a lasting reminder of the aims of the campaign.

He said: ’The Community Kindness campaign encouraged and recognised those who went out of their way for others.

’Hopefully the benches will help foster that same generosity of spirit in the months and years to come.’