Wormwood Scrubs Tools Shed Returns to Ravenscourt Park
Donated gardening implements are repaired by prisoners
Community volunteers make use of Tool Shed tools
February 19, 2025
Tool Shed, a project in which prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs refurbish and repair garden tools for community use is being revived.
The prisoners’ workshop was closed during the pandemic bringing the initiative, which has been managed by The Conservation Foundation since 2005, to a halt.
Now it is returning and unwanted and broken garden hand tools, donated by members of the public, will once again be refurbished, repaired, straightened and given a coat of bright new paint in prison workshops before being given to schools and community gardens.
Tools can be donated at W6 Garden Centre at Ravenscourt Avenue, close to the Ravenscourt Park entrance near King Street, Hammersmith. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 9.30am to 5:30pm.
The Foundation is expecting a considerable demand once Spring arrives and hopes to involve additional garden centres soon to support the scheme.
Tools refurbished by Wormwood Scrubs prisoners
‘The need is for hand tools suitable for young gardeners - no large shovels or strimmers please. Tools are often donated by family members who don’t want to see a relation’s beloved tools going to landfill or gardeners feel it is a good time to bring their gardening aids up-to-date’, says David Shreeve, Director of The Conservation Foundation.
He describes it as a ‘win-win’ project as everyone likes it – members of the public like to think that often much-loved tools are being saved from going to waste, schools and community appreciate free much needed tools with a story to them and the prisoners feel they are putting back something to the community.
Schools and community gardens needing tools should contact: tools@conservationfoundation.co.uk.
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