Making Together Part 3: Building

Making Together Part 3: Building

2-5pm Thursday 06th August @WeCanMake The Factory

In this third and final session, we will put all of our learnings to use, building and finishing wooden planters to increase biodiversity where we live. This will be accompanied by building bird and bat boxes, as well as bug hotels to make space for wildlife.

What is it?

Making Together is a 3-part programme where you can:

• Learn DIY making skills with your family
• Explore nature and how to make more space for wildlife in your garden
• Learn how to make planters, bird and bat boxes and bug hotels

Who is it for?

• For parents/carers and children. Suitable for children aged 4+
• Everyone welcome, we especially encourage people from BS4 and BS14 postcodes

Sessions are free to attend and are designed for families to learn together. Activities will be split into sessions suitable for younger and older learners.

All kit and materials provided. All sessions include drinks and food.

When and where?

Session 1: Thursday 23rd July, 2-5pm @The Factory, BS4 1ET. Sign up here: https://making-together-1.eventbrite.co.uk

Session 2: Wednesday 29th July, 2-5pm @Wild Things Farm, BS39 4BS (minibus will leave from The Factory, BS4 1ET at 1.30pm). Sign up here: https://making-together-2.eventbrite.co.uk

Session 3: Thursday 06th August, 2-5pm @ The Factory, BS4 1ET.

About WeCanMake

We host community meetups every 3rd Thursday of the month! Come along and meet your neighbours, chat, and get hands on making together.

WeCanMake is a community land trust and neighbourhood system demonstrator working towards more regenerative futures. Our North Star mission is: “everyone has access to a decent and affordable home delivered within safe planetary boundaries”.

WeCanMake works to create little pockets of the future in the present, tangibly demonstrating what alternative regenerative futures can look and feel like in our homes, streets, neighbourhoods. We do this in four ways:

· Creation of new homes through infill development of existing settlements. WeCanMake has delivered two low-carbon 100% affordable homes so far and has 34 more homes in its development pipeline. Homes and land are held in our community land trust, with affordability and long-term community benefit locked in.

· Retrofit of existing homes. Our people and place-led approach to retrofit includes biomaterial fabric improvements, spatial enhancement, and green infrastructure. WeCanMake currently has retrofit work underway with 6 homes on a demonstration street in Knowle West and have set up a Neighbourhood Trade Crew to undertake the work.

· Democratising and localising the means of production. WeCanMake focuses on using low-carbon and locally sourced bio- and re-use materials for construction. In our neighbourhood factory (shared with KWMC) we train local people to use digital fabrication kit to make components for the homes, creating future-facing local skills, jobs, and community wealth.

· Community stewardship and agency. WeCanMake takes a collaborative approach to housing whereby residents aren't treated as just consumers or service beneficiaries; but instead are invited to be active citizens in the management and maintenance of their homes, and, in the process, help build a stronger sense of collective agency, security, and belonging in our homes, streets, and neighbourhoods.