Blickling Estate Welcomes Aylsham and District Community Shed

Aylsham and District Community Shed (ADCS) has been operating from Aylsham High School’s Construction Shed since it launched in June 2023. The new partnership enables ADCS members to participate in more activities, with more space, and access to different equipment.

ADCS will use the workshop for both individual and community-focused projects, a place to share and learn new skills, helping to strengthen social connections and support wellbeing among local people. The increased space will give the organisation room to grow its membership and expand its activities.

Recent projects include: repairing a large frame and building the box office for the Aylsham Picture House, refurbishing the noticeboard for St Michael’s Church, building a memory tree for Aylsham Library, refurbishing 11 wooden picnic tables for Aylsham High School, building nest boxes for swifts, barn owls and garden birds.

Steve Pickering, Chair of Aylsham & District Community Shed explained that:

“The workshop had been unused for a few years and needed a bit of a clear out and repaint, so we started with that. The next steps will be to rebuild the wood store outside and to install a new kitchenette so we now have somewhere to gather and chat over tea and biscuits away from the workshop.”

Aloys Feeney, Property Operations Manager at Blickling Estate said:
“We’re delighted to welcome ADCS into the workshop and bring this space back into use for the local community. Supporting activities that help people connect, create and feel part of something is at the heart of what we do, and this partnership is a wonderful example of how heritage spaces can continue to serve community needs today.”

Andrew Mullenger, Secretary of Aylsham and District Community Shed said:
“Having regular access to the Blickling workshop is a game-changer for us. It means more space, more time together and more opportunities for our members to work on projects that benefit both themselves and the wider community. We’re excited to build a strong relationship with the Blickling team in the same way that our relationship with the Aylsham Cluster Trust (TACT) Families works for us, with our primary location at Aylsham High School. We want to take the lessons we have learnt with (TACT) Families to make this collaboration with the Blickling team a real success".

Anyone who would like to join the Aylsham and District Community Shed can visit: https://aylshamcommunityshed.org/ or email secretary@aylshamcommunityshed.org