Table of contents

Ongoing projects

Here are some of our current projects. Some, like bird boxes and bug houses, are staple products, which we make and sell throughout the year. For the last two years, planters have been most heavily in demand at the events we have attended.

Other projects, like the garden benches being restored for the Hampshire Constabulary at Netley, and the library garden tables and fences, are one-off projects which we undertake at the customers' request.

These are some of our projects:

• Bird boxes

• Bug houses

• Boot holders

• Woodland carved figures 

• Canoe stands

• Garden benches (police, Netley)

• Library garden tables and fences

• Pet (and other animal) planters

• Oven Gotchas

• Decorative fish

• Hedgehog houses

These are staple products which are very popular. This one is drying after being painted:

A year or so ago, we took a number to Bitterne Library's "Marvellous Makers" event.  But only the bare outside was made by us; the children at the event were invited to complete them themselves with whatever they chose to fill them. It was reported as a very successful event. Here is Tony Morris, our treasurer, with one of the partially completed bug houses, and there are also materials on the desk that can be used to make up more:

The materials inside can be many and varied, as long as they are attractive to bugs. Cork and canes are very popular, as are pine cones. There is no need for materials to be expensive, or indeed to cost anything at all.

There were other events where we provided kit bug-houses, for children to complete at the event. 

Pet and animal planters

Pet and animal planters have proved very popular, and Tony Kingston, our "Shedder of the Year" in 2024, has been turning them out to order for over two years now. These are reindeer planters. You can get an idea of the design and the size:

Here is another view (with Den, our Projects Manager, in the background):

Tony does other animals. These have also proved very popular:

We still make regular planters, which are really our staple. Though many shedders prefer to work alone, these are often produced collaboratively, as here:

Oven gotchas (oven rack pullers)

Another popular idea, these have been made in quite large numbers for many years (originally by Graham, now by recently-joined member John). Their function is to get trays, etc, out of the oven without burning your hands. Here are two, awaiting finishing (the edges will be rounded off before they go out):

Benches for the Hampshire Constabulary, Netley

This is a project headed up by Michael Clowes (our health and safety representative), where we have been asked to restore some benches at the constabulary site. The work that has been done so far has been highly praised (progress is weather-dependent, but we have completed the work on most of the benches).

Other projects

Not all our projects are for sale in the community. Many of our members spend a long time, outside as well as at the club, on projects of their own. Nick, for example, has made some very beautiful, and (he says) very effective longbows. Here is one that is still in progress. It is good to see that our fighting traditions are being kept alive: 

Nick has other skills. Here are some exquisitely-finished cutting boards:

You need a great deal of patience, and a steady hand, to make these.

Other members are also very skillful. Clive is a whittling expert, and here is one of his creations:

Larger projects

In 2026, our site was reorganised, giving us a lot of additional room. We decided to arrange our larger canvas shed so that machinery could be used inside, but also so that, when the weather permitted, the machinery could be moved outside. Steve headed up a project to build a work bench, on which machinery could be mounted, but which could also be wheeled inside or outside the canvas shed. Here it is, almost complete. It will have a back, and power points for machinery, and (as you can see) it is sturdy enough for machinery to be mounted on to it.

Here again - back now added.

As you can see, then, our projects can be large or small, and are very varied. You do not need to be able to build a large work bench to find a niche at the shed club, or you can work on a large project collaboratively, as part of a team, if you like. But small projects are perfectly OK as well, functional such as bug houses, or exquisite like Nick's cutting boards. There is a place for people with all levels of skill, and all types of preference for projects.