Thanks to a local benefactor we have been gifted a purpose-built Shed just outside the town. It’s not large but it’s big enough for up to eight people to work together and we have received generous grants for equipment.
We started fitting-out last year but made slow progress as we were only operating one day a week and we got a bit bogged down doing work for the local community.
Everyone agrees we did excellent work for local Britain in Bloom team (Kingsbridge – which is in south Devon – have won gold for several years now and were in the national finals last year) for the local Information Centre where we created a brilliant new counter, and for the local amateur dramatics group who were putting on Fiddler on the Roof and needed a milk cart! Planters for the local library, refurbished garden furniture for our local hospital and bird boxes for a local care home were other projects and there were still more! So just before the lockdown, we declared we were doing no more community work until we had completed the fitting-out.
Everyone agrees we did excellent work for local Britain in Bloom team Kingsbridge have won gold for several years now and were in the national finals last year
Then nothing for three months!
Four weeks ago we had a tentative reopening restricting numbers to six, sanitising hands on entering and other critical surfaces, wearing masks and maintaining distance as far as possible.
Just a few of us now concentrating on the fitting-out has seen good progress and I have attached a photo of our second long workbench which had been outstanding for a long time.
We have made great progress despite the Covid-19 restrictions and now have only one major item outstanding to complete the fitting-out process. That is erecting a canopy over the entrance doors that will provide an outdoor working area and a wood offcuts storage facility.
We have started to take on new members and still have a waiting list.
We still have a long way to go in terms of training, putting the finishing touches to health and safety procedures and finishing the installation of equipment.
Returning to normal working may be a long way off but when it is possible we will be well-equipped and motivated to join the Shed movement. To catch up with all we are doing visit us at www.kingsbridgeshed.co.uk
Enquiries to Peter Richardson Treasurer 1938peter@gmail.com