Tag: 2025

From Bats to Owls: Our Community Champions for Wildlife!

Following up on the wonderful news of Peter Gillard’s bat box installation, we’re excited to share another inspiring conservation story from within our community! This time, we shine a spotlight on Peter Reeves, who has been diligently crafting a fantastic array of owl boxes.

Peter has been busy in the workshop, creating no fewer than fifteen bespoke owl homes. His impressive creations cater to a variety of species, including:

  • Barn Owl Boxes: Designed for both mounting in barns and attaching to trees, providing safe havens for these iconic birds.
  • Tawny Owl Boxes: Offering secure nesting sites for the more common Tawny Owl.
  • Little Owl Boxes: Perfectly sized for these charming and smaller owls.
Delivering owl box
Owl boxes
Owl boxes

It’s truly heartening to see such dedication to supporting our local wildlife. By providing suitable nesting sites, individuals like Peter are making a tangible difference in helping these important species thrive.

This initiative perfectly complements the recent efforts to support our bat populations, highlighting a broader commitment within our community to biodiversity and conservation. Every little bit helps, and these handcrafted boxes offer vital shelter and breeding opportunities for these fascinating creatures.

We extend a huge thank you to Peter Reeves for his hard work and passion for wildlife conservation! It’s individuals like him who make our community a better place for both people and nature.

Stay tuned for more updates on local conservation efforts and contact us if you would like to get involved!

Shedding Light on Local Conservation: Bat Boxes Installed in Hammer Wood

Here at the Petersfield Men’s Shed, we’re passionate about contributing positively to our local community in a variety of ways. This week, our efforts took us to the beautiful Hammer Wood in Chithurst, West Sussex, demonstrating our commitment to conservation and ecological support.

Peter Gillard putting up bat boxes in Hammer Wood
Peter Gillard putting up bat boxes in Hammer Wood

As you can see in the photo, Peter Gillard one of our members was busy installing bat nesting boxes within the woodland. Hammer Wood, a publicly accessible area owned by the serene Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, provides a wonderful natural habitat, and we were delighted to contribute to its biodiversity.

Yesterday’s work saw the successful installation of four bat boxes, carefully crafted by our talented members, Peter Gillard and Simon Ralfe. These boxes will provide safe and crucial roosting sites for local bat populations, playing a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling insect numbers.

We’re not done yet! We have another four bat boxes to be installed, further enhancing the habitat within Hammer Wood.

This project is just one example of how the Petersfield Men’s Shed actively engages with environmental initiatives within our community. We believe in hands-on contributions that make a tangible difference.

Stay tuned for more updates on our community projects!

Herne Junior School Tree: Part Two is Officially Planted (and Painted!)

We’re thrilled to share an update on our second fantastic ‘Tree’ project with Herne Juniors! As you know, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes, and we’re delighted to announce that the new Herne Junior School Tree has now been successfully installed.

It’s up! Our second Herne School Tree is now proudly standing in its new home!

Last week saw a burst of creativity as some enthusiastic Herne Junior pupils joined members of the Petersfield Men’s Shed for a vibrant painting event. The afternoon was a fantastic success, and we managed to get all the necessary elements beautifully painted, thanks to the hard work and artistic flair of everyone involved.

We were so impressed by the dedication and imaginative ideas of the Year 6 pupils who participated. Their energy was infectious, and they truly brought the ‘Tree’ to life with their colourful contributions. A big thank you also to the two supportive teachers who joined us and the half dozen of members of the shed who kept the session running smoothly. We kept the creative spirits high with plenty of squash and biscuits to keep everyone going!

The positive feedback we received makes all the effort worthwhile. One particularly heartwarming comment from a mum whose child attended the painting session truly highlighted the special nature of these projects:

“One of the children hasn’t stopped talking about it. He said it’s a nice place for retired people.” 🤣

This lovely sentiment perfectly captures the wonderful intergenerational connection and sense of community that these collaborations foster. It’s fantastic to know the children feel such a positive connection to what they helped create.

But don’t just take our word for it! We’re excited to share some photos from both the fun-filled painting day last week and the newly installed Herne Junior School Tree. Take a look below to see the colourful creations and the finished piece in its rightful place!

We hope the new Herne Junior School Tree will be a source of joy, inspiration, and perhaps even a nice spot for contemplation (for all ages!) at Herne Junior School for many years to come.

A huge thank you once again to the wonderful Herne Junior School pupils, the supportive teachers, and our dedicated shed members for making this second ‘Tree’ project such a colourful and successful endeavor.

Petersfield Seed Swap Recap

The Men’s Shed joined a thriving crowd at Winton House on March 8th for the 3rd annual Seed Swap!

Organized by Claire Vennis and supported by Shine Radio, the event offered seed swapping, gardening workshops, and a chance to connect with local organizations. We even saw a dedicated ‘Seed Sowing Corner’ for young gardeners. A truly inspiring morning for all!

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