Petersfield Men's Shed

We have a fantastic update from Peter highlighting a couple of recent, wildlife-focused projects that have just been deployed in our local area. It is always incredibly rewarding to see the Shed’s handiwork making a tangible difference to local conservation efforts.

New Homes for Barn Owls in Milland

Peter recently completed two beautiful new owl boxes. A couple of weeks ago, the rangers from the South Downs National Park (SDNP) stepped in to help install the first of these for a local resident over in Milland. As you can see in the photo, the spacious wooden box is now safely secured high up in a sturdy, ivy-covered tree, ready to provide a safe nesting space for its new feathered tenants.

The “Men’s Shed Cattle Trough Frame”

Along with the owl boxes, the Milland resident also requested one of Peter’s special, lifesaving creations: the unofficial “Men’s Shed Patent Cattle Trough Frame”.

Peter has built a couple of these clever wooden frames now, and they serve a vital purpose. Barn owls have incredibly soft plumage that offers absolutely no protection against getting waterlogged. If they accidentally venture into a steep-sided cattle trough for a drink and fall in, they are unable to fly out and can easily drown.

By installing these floating, fitted wooden frames inside the metal troughs, it provides the owls with a safe, grippy surface to land on and easily climb back out of the water. It’s a simple woodworking solution to a serious hazard, ensuring the local birds stay safe.

A massive well done to Peter for his brilliant work on these wildlife projects.

The workshop has been buzzing with activity recently as our members teamed up for a fantastic local cause! We are proud to share that the Petersfield Men’s Shed has been busy crafting a new set of sturdy wooden playground blocks for the children over at Petersfield Infants School.

As you can see from the latest photos sent in by Nick Broom, it’s been a brilliant team effort. From measuring and cutting the wood to carefully gluing, clamping, and screwing the pieces together, the guys have put their woodworking skills to great use.

These hollow, durable wooden blocks are built to withstand plenty of wear and tear, and they are sure to provide hours of creative, hands-on playtime for the kids. Projects like this are exactly what the Shed is all about, sharing skills, enjoying some great camaraderie, and giving back to our local community.

A huge thank you to everyone who pitched in on this project!

Want to get involved in community builds like this? Come down to the Shed, grab a cup of tea, and say hello.