Author: Mike Belch

20th November 2023 It is said that the difference between men and boys is the size of their toys. This was definitely true at our Shortlands men’s shed garden today when Heidelberg Materials volunteers from Batts Combe Quarry in Cheddar turned up with this lot of lovely machines. Over the next week they will be…

11th November 2023 Axe Valley Men’s Shed would like to thank Axbridge Sports & Social Club for their kind donation of £500. They are pictured here handing over the cheque to our chairman Andy Laken. Our ability to restore the historic Axbridge Railway Station site depends entirely on the generosity of the general public and…

9th November 2023 Mixed feelings today as we close the door on our old shed premises. We have cleaned it out, removed some of the biggest cobwebs ever seen, taken down all the inspirational posters and moved all the woodworking equipment. We have many happy memories of our time here, but we also remember the…

6th November 2023 Axe Valley Men’s Shed was featured on BBC Somerset’s Charlie Taylor breakfast show on Monday 6th November. The six-minute clip talked about our recent move to the old Axbridge Railway Station and our plans to restore the building. As mentioned in the interview, our work will be constrained by the amount of…

21st October 2023 This week Axe Valley Men’s Shed held the last meeting at its home on the Valley Line Industrial Park. On Wednesday 1st November, following a flurry of activity, we will hold our first meeting at Axbridge Railway Station. With the support of Axbridge Town Council, Axe Valley Men’s Shed recently signed a…

19th September 2023 Earlier this year, local artist Bridget Hemmings set up the Cheddar Individuality Project. Inspired by the work of Anthony Gormley, she helped local people, many of whom had little or no artistic experience, to create 1,000 individual sculptures of themselves or other people. The sculptures were exhibited in May before being displayed…

16th September 2023 Axe Valley Men’s Shed was happy to answer Wild Cheddar’s call for help and provide this laser-engraved sign for Cheddar First School’s new pond. Shed member Mike attended the official unveiling. The pond was originally built in September 2005 by Cheddar Vale Lions Club, assisted by current shed members Mark and Mike.

27th July 2023 Axe Valley Men’s Shed has developed its relationship with the team at Hanson Batts Combe Quarry in Cheddar even further by donating several Dormouse nesting boxes. These boxes were made by shed members in our workshop from natural un-treated wood. They will be mounted hole-side-into-the-trunk on the Dormice’s preferred hazel trees at…

24th July 2023 We had a great day on Sunday at the Summer Skate Jam Festival – In aid of The Space aka the FlamJam. As a group concerned with men’s mental health it was a privilege to attend an event supporting two charities concerned with youth mental health. Thanks to Lesley Page for the…

25th June 2023 In 1623, the town of Axbridge was given its third royal charter. At the time, the town Bailiff and Sergeant at the Mace – predecessors of the modern police force – were each given ceremonial silver maces. Four hundred years later the history of these now fragile artefacts was celebrated as they…