MIDSOMER Norton Men’s Shed have worked together with students at Fosse Way School to build bird boxes.

The project was part of Fosse Way School’s Bird Day, held to coincide with the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch survey.

The whole school took part in activities linked to birds, and making the bird boxes provided a group of secondary students with some valuable hands-on carpentry work experience. The boxes will be put up in the school grounds to support students with bird-watching activities.

Teacher Debbie Stevens said: “The bird box project gave our students valuable hands-on experience and a real sense of achievement. It was fantastic to see them learning practical carpentry skills while also developing an interest in wildlife.

“Fosse Way School would like to thank Richard Jordan and his team for their support and for helping make the activity so enjoyable and hands-on.”

One of the students who undertook the carpentry work said: “I really enjoyed making the bird boxes and learning the techniques involved in putting it together.

“Hopefully some birds will nest in them in the spring and we will see them around the school grounds.”

Men’s Shed spokesperson Richard Jordan said: “It was a pleasure to be involved with Fosse Way school, giving some students a little insight into woodworking.

“We cut all the bits for some bird boxes and presented them in flat pack style ready for the students to assemble, having a completed one there for them to follow. We think the students enjoyed it as much as the shedders!”

Midsomer Norton Men's Shed is about men's mental health, says spokesperson Richard Jordan. A group of mixed talents and mixed ages (chaps and one lady), they meet meet twice a week to make useful things out of wood.

He said: “Just being there together and socialising is a large part of what we do. We always used to say that if we ever made anything at all, that would be a bonus.”

Yet over the years, this enterprising group has made plenty: more than 50 benches for local schools, 100 bird boxes for schools and nature projects, hedgehog boxes, a welly boot rack for 180 pairs of wellies for a local school, five welly boot cupboards as well as replacing two notice boards for local nature projects.

Each Christmas the group of carpenters craft 100 wooden toys to be given to children at the Christmas Fayre in Midsomer Norton.

Richard said: “We only make things for schools, churches, charities, nature reserves and the like. We do not make things for individuals or businesses. Apart from this visit to the school, all our work takes place in the shed.”

If a school, charity, or similar might like a men's shed product, they are asked to contact Richard on 07818 420685.

If however people would like to join the team, he did warn: “We are so popular that we are having to operate a waiting list for prospectives members.”