ROSS-ON-WYE Men’s Shed has been busy crafting bird boxes for a housing developer at St Mary’s Garden Village.

As part of the developer’s aim to encourage sustainability in and around the community, the homebuilder Taylor Wimpey South Wales’ teamed up with the local group to create a range of welcoming homes for an array of wildlife at its Kyrle Green development.

Founded in 2016, the Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed welcomes those over the age of 55, giving them the chance to come together to make, repair and repurpose items in a safe and happy environment.

The aim of the group is to improve well-being, reduce loneliness and encourage men to open up and carry out shoulder-to-shoulder conservation.

Mark Gunn from the Men’s Shed in Ross, said: “We were really excited to get involved in a community project with Taylor Wimpey South Wales and seeing the completed bird boxes on the Kyrle Green development has been delightful.

“Men’s Shed locally has positively impacted many of us and we’re always encouraging retired and semi-retired men to come along to one of our workshops where we connect with each other while making and mending things.”

The team at the Men’s Shed in Ross have recommissioned many park benches and restored the Greytree Shrine, which honours the men from the village who served in the First World War.

The bird boxes are now being installed around the Kyrle Green development in Ross creating a warm, safe place for birds and insects this winter.

Danielle Heard, sales and customer director at Taylor Wimpey South Wales, said: “We’re honoured to partner with Ross Men’s Shed to create four, well-needed bird boxes for Kyrle Green. The Men’s Shed is a vital community hub that provides an invaluable resource to some of our local residents, and we can’t wait to watch the group grow in years to come.”