Inside HMP Edinburgh's Saughton hen house where this cockerel rules the roost
The henitentiary at HMP Edinburgh is a key part of prison life, writes Cat Thomson.
I was recently invited to meet a flock of VIPs, aka very important poultry. The security was exceptionally tight not because they are rare breeds or flighty fancy fowl, but because they reside at his majesty’s pleasure, inside HMP Edinburgh, Saughton.
The henitentiary at HMP Edinburgh, as the hen set-up is affectionately known, was created in 2014, the brainchild of a poultry-keeping prison officer. His hen keeping hobby began when his wife decided to get five rescue hens at home.
But four years on, his flock numbers had dramatically increased, and he thought hen keeping might fit well as a prison activity. Fortunately, the forward-thinking governor at the time, Teresa Medhurst, who is now the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, agreed.
As the time there were 100 women prisoners, so a trial poultry-keeping project started with 20 hens. The positive benefits quickly became apparent, with prisoners’ improved mental health.
Although no female prisoners are now housed at HMP Edinburgh, the hens are still part of prison life. The current roll call is 38 hens, including a cockerel named Jock. The flock are safely housed behind a high-security perimeter fence. The ladies can free range and forage under the watchful eye of the handsome cockerel. The flock lives in four hen coops specially made by the joinery workshed at HMP Perth.
Today one prisoner is involved with the hens’ daily care, carefully supervised by staff. Although he had no prior experience with poultry, he has taken to it like a duck to water.
The groundbreaking henitentiary project has taken off, inspiring a flock at HMP Glenochil. The community custody unit, Lilias Centre in Glasgow, are also planning on introducing some HMP Edinburgh-bred hens.
Mark Holloway, Deputy Governor at HMP Edinburgh is keen to point out that, “The henitentiary has been running successfully within HMP Edinburgh for over a decade. Thanks to the commitment and expertise of our staff, the project exists to give those in our care the opportunity to learn new skills, build relationships with others and importantly, to take responsibility. These are all things that they can take forward and apply to their lives when they are released which we hope has benefits for themselves and their communities.”
Another bonus to the rigorous security at HMP Edinburgh is that the flock are safe from urban fox attacks. Result.
Businesses can purchase coops and other garden furniture from SPS Industries Prison Industries, part of the Scottish Prison Service (sps.gov.uk)