ANDOVER Trees United (ATU) has been awarded funding from two major groups for its project to help create useful and saleable products from waste timber.

The Andover charity is getting support from The National Lottery Community Fund and IKEA UK for its Timbershare programme.

The programme is aimed at providing a shared workshop and guided sessions for local groups, carpenters and novice woodworkers to process ‘waste’ timber from its timber-frame cabin build project and create useful and saleable products.

Wendy Davis, ATU project founder and leader, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players and IKEA, we have been given this creative opportunity to bring people together with a shared aim of reducing waste, making the most of resources and learning from each other to craft items which will benefit the charity and all who participate.”

IKEA, with its Places Called Home programme, is supporting more than 330 local communities across the UK with grants of up to £5,000 to build back better and differently as they recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Lottery Community Fund is also providing financial aid and a virtual learning and support programme for the ATU.

The Timbershare project will kickstart on Saturday, October 23, with a ‘Sort & Stack’ of the left-over larch and cedar timber.

“Sorting through the timber as we stack is a great opportunity to come up with ideas how best to use it,” Ms Davis added.

“Whether you like working with wood or are just keen to give it a go, we hope you will come along.”

To get involved as either a participant or session leader, the organisation are asking people to email volunteers@andovertrees.org.uk and put ‘Timbershare’ in the subject line.