A Powys-based initiative is in with a shot of being named as one of 2024’s best community projects from across England and Wales.

Llanfyllin Shed has been chosen as a finalist in the Community Project of the Year 2024 award, by UK Men’s Shed Association following the judging of all Wales and England entries.

Representatives of the Shed have been invited to attend the Awards Reception on Tuesday, November 19 in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House in the House of Commons.

The initiative is a community-based project that aims to get people learning and taking action for nature and their environment while gaining practical woodworking skills.

The project, called 'Learn and Build - Working Together for Nature' is funded by the National Lottery Fund and is a partnership with Llanfyllin Shed and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

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Originally called the Men’s Shed and opened in 2019, Llanfyllin Shed began as a facility to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practise skills and enjoy making and mending, and help generate social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge.

Since partnering with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and launching the project in April 2024, the group has organised monthly events with local groups such as the scouts, brownies and schools. Some of the projects the Men’s Shed make include flat pack animal shelters, while also assisting the children in constructing them.

(Image: Gillian Johnson)

Together with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust the shed also provides the group with animal related information and crafts, hoping that visitors at their workshops not only leave with a handmade box, but also with enough information to take them into later life valuing their environment.

In March 2024 the project received a £10,000 grant from the National Lotter ahead of its launch.

At the time Gillian Johnson from Llanfyllin Shed said, “We are eternally grateful to the National Lottery, especially to those people who play each week.  Without these grants many small local projects would not get off the ground.”