Inside the Chorleywood Community Shed: Tea, Timber and Building Community at the Memorial Hall

We often look to grand policy meetings or technology pioneers to bring about positive change, but as you know, lately I’ve been finding the most inspiring stories right on my doorstep – in the quiet, persistent work of local individuals rolling up their sleeves and this time asking: “How can we do this better, together?”

This week, I popped down to the Chorleywood Memorial Hall on a Monday to sit down with Debbie and Andrew, the husband-and-wife duo behind the Chorleywood Community Shed. Launched in September 2024, this local initiative is a masterclass in reducing waste, sharing practical skills and above all, combating modern isolation through simple, human connection.

The Spark: From Australian Outback to Hertfordshire

Every community initiative starts with a spark. For Andrew, the inspiration came from reading about the history of the original Men’s Shed movement in Australia. Andrew told me how it started:

“Sheds originally started out in Australia for a very specific reason. In a country that size, you have miners, farmers and workers who become completely isolated – especially when a life change or loss happens. Women are naturally brilliant at socialising; they’ll strike up a conversation anywhere. Men tend not to do that. If you ask a man how he’s feeling, you often get ‘I’m fine,’ and the conversation ends. But put a practical problem in front of them and suddenly they’ll open up and start working together.” – Andrew

Translating that idea to Hertfordshire, Andrew and his wife Debbie – who has served on the Chorleywood Parish Council for years – realised there were plenty of Chorleywood residents who would benefit from the “warmth and camaraderie’ the Shed could offer. While the traditional model is a “Men’s Shed,” Andrew and Debbie made a conscious choice to establish a Community Shed: a place open to absolutely everyone, regardless of gender, background, age or skill set.

“We have people with a range of health conditions, some with memory issues, retirees and some who just want to share or learn new skills. There is zero expectation or judgement. It’s just about being together, enjoying each others company and doing something useful for the community”.” – Andrew

The Three Tenets: Meet, Make, Mend

The global Shed movement is built around three simple words: Meet, Make, Mend. But if you ask anyone at the Chorleywood Shed, the most important one by far is Meet.

On any given Monday, the hum of saws and paintbrushes is accompanied by group chatter, laughter and a steady stream of tea and homemade cake.

But when the tools do come out, this group accomplishes some remarkable work for the village:

• Spooky Trails & Easter Eggs: For the Parish Council’s seasonal trails on the Common, the Shed cut out and backlit 12 huge spooky figures (ghosts, bats, and haunted houses) for Halloween, having previously built the giant Easter eggs earlier in the year.

• Village Festival Stalls: Preparing handcrafted wooden Father Christmas heads, festive decorations and items for the local Christmas market and the Chorleywood Village Day to raise funds for future tools.

• Paper-Maché Bird Nests, Swift and Bat Boxes: Crafting specialised bird, bat and swift boxes out of wood and paper-maché to help local rangers protect wildlife across Chorleywood Common.

• Local Mending: From fixing a broken electric mixer for Flo Garvey who runs the Woodoaks Bakery and Fermentary to repairing 100-year-old gardening tools and hayforks for the Sarrat Community Garden, the group gives broken items a brand-new lease on life.

Wonder who repaired the memorial bench?

Or made the lovely signs for the Chorleywood Village Day?

The Big Challenge: Hunting for a Permanent Home

For all its success, the Chorleywood Community Shed faces one major hurdle: they don’t have a permanent physical building yet.

Every Monday, Andrew and the team carry tools back and forth, squeeze drying paint projects into a tiny boiler room cupboard at the Memorial Hall and turn down generous donations of machinery and timber because there is simply nowhere to store them. The group is currently working on gaining official registered charity status (to apply for equipment grants) and is actively searching for a permanent spot in or near Chorleywood.

They are keeping an eye out for:

1. An unused local building, barn, or outbuilding.
2. A small patch of land where a porta-cabin or container could be placed.

“Having our own space would allow us to run sessions throughout the week, set up dedicated woodworking and metalworking spaces and hold workshops for kids or youth groups. We’d also love to help host local Repair Cafés alongside our neighbours in Croxley and Amersham.” – Andrew

Why Everyday Eco-Heroes Matter

On the heels of a successful late-summer BBQ and with a Christmas gathering on the horizon, momentum at the Shed is building fast. Yet what struck me most during my chat with Debbie and Andrew is how initiatives like this cut right to the heart of what true sustainability means. It isn’t just about carbon metrics or global summits; it’s about rescuing a broken tool from ending up in a skip, keeping local wood out of landfill and ensuring no member of our community has to sit at home feeling isolated.

Whether you’re a skilled woodworker, someone who wants to learn how to handle a drill, or someone who just needs a warm cup of tea and a friendly ear, the Shed proves that we are always stronger when we build things together.

How You Can Get Involved:

• Pop In on Mondays: Head down to the Chorleywood Memorial Hall on Monday mornings. Grab a tea, sample some cake and say hello!
• Help Find a Home: Do you know of an unused barn, empty outbuilding, or plot of land in or near Chorleywood? Reach out to Andrew and Debbie!
• Support Local Stalls: Keep an eye out for the Shed’s handcrafted figures on the Common during the Spooky Trail and stop by their stall at the upcoming Christmas Festival.

Grassroots eco-heroes don’t always wear capes – sometimes, they just hand you a paintbrush, pass you a slice of fruitcake and remind you that taking care of our stuff, and each other, is the best way forward.