Elsie Lange
At the old sawmill on Blackforest Drive, the Woodend Men’s Shed are making tiny wooden homes for native wildlife left homeless by recent storms.
Microbats, mini-gliders, ringtail possums and hollow-nesting birds are just some of the species who have been gifted new real estate – made from the trees they once inhabited.
Woodend Men’s Shed president Kevin Davis said the organisation has been providing nesting boxes to vulnerable species in the Macedon Ranges for some time, but have only recently used the recycled timber provided by council.
“We were using purchased timber, but now the Macedon Ranges Shire is supplying us with planks that have been cut from storm-felled trees, and we’re using those to manufacture the nesting boxes,” Mr Davis said.
“In a sense, it’s a win-win.
“Because the timber is being recycled back out into the environment and it’s providing these nesting spaces which have been removed from the environment by the storms.”
Macedon Ranges councillor Janet Pearce posted on her Facebook page encouraging residents to head to the shed’s open day last month.
“It’s wonderful to see what they are making and recycling,” Cr Pearce said.
“We all know the health benefits the sheds provide to so many,” she added.
Mr Davis said it’s good to know the shed is giving back to the community while providing a space for men to relate to one another.
“It’s a great environmental thing, it’s a great community thing,” Mr Davis said.
