VOLUNTEERS keen to instil a repair ethos in youngsters while helping the borough’s bird population, have run 20 workshops this year helping borough children to make bird boxes.
Their scheme, run by the Lambs Lane Repair Cafe, began in February this year, and has been so successful that the group has twice had to ask for more donations of wood off-cuts.
Now they have received a boost in the form of a new location that will make it easier for them to deliver the project.
From February they will be able to process the wood, prepare bird box kits, and run workshops at new premises in Arborfield.
Billie Bachra who runs the group, said: “The project involves a lot of movement of planks of wood and birdbox kits which are very heavy.
“We were travelling between several locations and using a number of garages to store the wood and kits.
“So we’re excited to announce we have been offered the use of the Old Barn at Pudding Lane Nursery, Arborfield.
“We can have wood delivered to site, run wood cutting sessions there to create the kits, and conduct our workshops all from a single location.
“This will obviously take a lot of heavy lifting out of our efforts and streamline the project.
“From February we will be running our birdbox workshops from the Eco Skills Learning Center at Pudding Lane Nursery Arborfield.”
The group’s enthusiastic team of volunteer wood cutters have been helping children between the ages of seven and 12 to build their own bird boxes (which they can then take home) with hammers and nails.
As well as running workshops, this year the group has held three shows, and is very close to having created 500 birdboxes.
They also make bug hotels, and are planning to extend their range to include bat boxes, hedgehog boxes and owl boxes.
Workshops are free but the group accepts a small donation to cover heating and insurance costs.
They welcome donations of the following: a second-hand projector, six tables and 30 chairs for the classroom, heaters, 40 mm length 3mm head galvanised nails or 50mm screws, small hand- held drills – and more wood 15mm thick and 150 mm wide.
They would also be very grateful for sponsorship or grants to help fund the project, and to hear from more volunteers to cut wood and run workshops.
The Repair Cafe at Lambs Lane Primary School Spencers Wood is open the third Sunday of the Month, from 10am until 1pm.
The next meeting is on Sunday, December 15.
To donate, volunteer, or support the project, people can email: billie@spencerswoodrepaircafe.co.uk or call: 07718 679827.
