A brand new Ipswich Men’s Shed club in Ipswich.
The Ipswich Community Shed is based at the Brickmakers Wood, close to the University of Suffolk. “Sheds” are grassroots community activities that come in response to shared needs, and offers support in areas of health and wellbeing. The Brickmakers Wood is part of the Eden-Rose group of woodland sites that supports the cancer network along with providing other community health support.
The Eden-Rose Coppice Trust is run by Dr Rob Brooks, and it manages four woodland sites across Suffolk, which are used by the wider community, including 3.5 acre Brickmakers Wood in the heart of Ipswich.
Since 2007 Eden-Rose has been managing these sites and providing safe and easy access to urban woodland environments for people living with cancer as well as offering community support for people suffering from mental health issues, stress, loneliness and coping with life limiting illness.
Rob himself is a bowel cancer patient and many cancer patients have benefited from their time developing these Suffolk sites, he said.
Men’s and women’s groups, students and dementia groups have enjoyed the experience of getting involved in useful work in natural settings over recent years improving their environment.
Rob said it was the right time for a Ipswich Community Shed group and meets on Wednesdays
“Following a successful trial project in Sudbury where volunteers helped restore town centre nature, including planting wildflowers, restoring broken benches and making bird and bat boxes, along with social activities, it became evident that a lot of fun could be had while doing something useful.
“Eden-Rose Coppice Trust is developing this idea in Ipswich where we have large purpose-built fully fitted workshops including kitchen facilities and toilets. It is an ideal base.
“There are always jobs that need doing on a nature reserve and the surrounding area.
“We already have groups of volunteers who just like to meet and do something positive for the environment and there is already a well-established women’s group.
“Their work is based on the belief that more than medication is needed to affect positive and constructive support for people in society.
“So Brickmakers Wood is building up a community hub for men, inspiring positive action for a greener and healthier future by championing environmental action in Ipswich.
“With woodworking and metal crafting areas completed the small group is actively using their skills be it using a saw, coming up with ideas, planting flowers or knocking a nail in.”
The group has already taken possession of some unwanted planters from Ipswich Waterfront and has permission to rebuild them, develop with a watering system, plant with suitable plants and return to sites – in the town as part of Greener Ipswich.
The Men’s Shed meets on Wednesdays.
If you would like to find out more call Rob on 07811 111788.
Or email: Rob@withnature.org
Extra information
They are mostly for men, with access to tools, workbenches and giving them the chance to offer their skills and opportunities to make and mend for others. They can include anything from gardening to electronics, computing and crafts.
The health benefits are increased physical and mental activity and the chance to share expertise and knowledge, by learning or sharing skills.
The new men’s shed has been supporting the Greener Ipswich activities around the Waterfront area.
Waterfront Planters brought to life by members of the Ipswich Men’s Shed