Chorleywood Community Shed Update
Following a public meeting in early July to gauge local interest, the Chorleywood Community Shed was launched at the start of September.
At the moment the Chorleywood Community Shed meets every Wednesday at Bullsland Hall in Chorleywood until permanent premises can be secured. The meetings alternate between daytime and evenings to allow as many “Shedders” as possible to attend based on their other commitment and refreshments are provided.
Meetings so far have included wood whittling and making rolled beeswax candles with upcoming craft activities being determined the Shedders. Ideas for the future include making bug and bee hotels, linocut picture making plus going to visit other Sheds, exhibitions and events to gain ideas and knowledge.
If you’d like to find out more or join the Community Shed please email them at:
chorleywoodcommunityshed@gmail.com
You can also follow the Community Shed on Facebook by searching for Chorleywood Community Shed
So What Are Community Sheds?
Community Sheds (or Sheds) are similar to garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Community Sheds are the opposite. They’re about bringing together a diverse community of people, building social connections, forging friendships, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course drinking lots of tea to the sound of laughter.
Sheds are whatever the members (or Shedders as they are affectionately called) want them to be. Although labelled sheds, they often aren’t sheds at all. They can be empty offices, converted shipping containers, portakabins, warehouses, garages, and in at least one case, a disused mortuary.
Some Sheds are purpose built workshops, but they rarely start out that way. Many don’t have premises at all in the beginning and instead form a group that meets regularly for the social connection, company and camaraderie until they can find somewhere to kit out with tools.
The UK Shed movement started in 2013 and there are now about 850 Sheds across the UK. A majority are “Men in Sheds” but there are a growing number of Community Sheds, like the one in Chorleywood which welcome everybody. Many of the Sheds generate income through membership fees, undertaking repairs and producing items for sale at community events.
To find out more about the UK Shed movement visit www.menssheds.org.uk
