Forest Community Shed

27/03/2026

8 Years on and we are now a charity, after being incorporated as a CIC on the 26th March 2018.
Our aim is still to foster social inclusion in the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas by helping adults, men and women, avoid and overcome exclusion, supporting their integration into society. This we do by offering facilities where individuals can connect, participate in creative or recreational activities, share skills, and support each other.
We have been based at the Orchard Trust site for nearly three years, and it truly is a wonderful place to belong. The welcoming sociable spaces here encourage members to build lasting friendships and help reduce feelings of isolation, making everyone feel part of the community. Regular interaction with the animals not only brings joy but has also been shown to lower stress and lift spirits, greatly benefiting our overall well-being.
Alongside these unique features, the site frequently hosts community events and we run creative workshops, providing opportunities for everyone to get involved, share interests, and celebrate achievements together. It’s a setting where support, connection, and a sense of belonging flourish.
We are now open more, offering Project Tuesday twice each month. Members collaborate on community projects, create items for sale, and participate in workshop maintenance and training.
We are very grateful to our funders, and our brilliant volunteers. Winning the Gloucestershire Volunteer Community Group of the Year highlights our ongoing success.

26/03/2026

26/03/2026

Site volunteer day - an amazing turnout, and the sun came out, so we got lots done.
We put the bird and bug boxes up, which we made with some of the clients last month, and then they helped with some painting. We mended a bench, then started the refurb of a few others, then refurbed the animal signs, and finished painting the wishing well and plant troughs.
Thanks to everyone.

23/03/2026

Another community project completed - Pillowell Early Years new fence and gate. Big thanks to Geoff, Gordon, Ken & Jon. You did us proud, it looks great.

13/03/2026

We are now a charity. So, having an Open Day to celebrate and invite people along to share this great facility.

02/03/2026

Busy last Thursday of the month out on site as it was dry! Plus some great fun in the workshop making bird and bug boxes with the Orchard Trust clients. Thanks to our great members who turned up to volunteer on the day.

19/02/2026

January's site volunteer day pics, sorry for the delay!
A great turnout, we put up some much-needed absent drainpipe over the door, to stop the cold drips down our necks and make the ground a bit safer, as we had an ice rink by the door.
Some great time with Orchard Trust clients, fixing the waterwall deccies they had made previously, and the sensory boards fixed outside the sensory garden.
We cleaned and sharpened the site gardening tools and trimmed and tied up the pergola vines.

26/01/2026

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24/01/2026

Pillowell Early Years, Pillowell School got some new gates and fence this week to replace the barricade. Big thanks to Geoff and Gordon, a beautiful and useful job!

12/01/2026

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27/12/2025

We are raising funds to build a new band rehearsal room and community hall.

22/12/2025

New opening - from 6th January we will be holding 2 project days a month, run by the management team. All members welcome free of charge.
On the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month we will be open for group project work only, including general workshop maintenance, repair, sharpening, community projects, and making items for sale.