Bring in the Birds

From waste to wellness; creating making projects for a residential care home

Research has shown the benefits of making and this project was part of exploring how a ‘maker-space’ might benefit a residential care home in Sussex. Staff and residents wanted to have a workshop in the garden; enabling a connection with the outside space and facilitating the introduction of wildlife. Using waste streams and materials found on site were key to the ethos of the build. These bird boxes are made from old EPV foam play tiles cut into jigsaw shapes. The tiles had been skipped but were still in good condition. The bird boxes were designed to be easily assembled by participants in the workshops. The pliable foam could be gently pushed together and needs no glue or other fixings.