Pupils at Bridport Primary School visit The Shed workshop

The finishing touches to Branden’s Trail, a memorial at Bridport Primary School to five-year-old Branden Wayland, who sadly died of cancer, will soon be in place.

The project, to remember Branden and to provide, as one pupil put it, “a calm place to come to”  has been a partnership between the school, town council, and the Bridport Young Person’s Action Trust (BYPAT) charity, also attracting support from across the community.

It aims to revitalise Branden’s memorial and leave a legacy to other young children with the creation of a Sensory Garden and Therapy Trail. The recreation of Branden’s Trail is part of the School’s Rights Respecting programme, which is itself a UNICEF initiative.

(Image: The Shed)

Local artist, Bryony Moores O’Sullivan’s 'Dead Tree' painting will soon spring to life, adorned with hundreds of wooden leaves designed by every child in the school, helped by sponsorship from the Living Tree Charity, with thanks given to the Community Shed, who created the leaves.

A special visit was arranged for members of the School Council to visit The Shed.

They wanted to give their thanks for the help received, and to learn something about this community project.

During the visit, pupils were shown how their leaves had been made, and were fascinated by a display of wood turning on the lathe.

(Image: The Shed)

They loved the bee and bird boxes, and were surprised to learn that there were even Butterfly boxes being made.

The children were buzzing on their way back to school.

One pupil said: “We were so interested to hear all the fascinating facts about how to make certain things with wood."

Another added: "It was a very inspiring experience, and it was interesting for us to see how they made the leaves that are we are decorating for Branden's Trail". 

A spokesperson for The Shed said it was good to see children taking such an interest in a local community project, and an activity that they perhaps wouldn’t otherwise experience.