Inspired to make toys from trash

Funny-faced skittles, milk bottle elephants, bottle top board games, bagatelle and fully furnished dolls' houses were among the many toys created from scraps we usually throw away. The session was led by Margaret Taylor, who volunteers at Wellesbourne's Chedham's Yard.

As Margaret explained, there is a link between her volunteering as a guide at Chedham’s Yard and her enthusiasm for upcycling trash. "For 150 years the Chedham family ran their wheelwright's workshop and forge, never throwing anything away. Like me, they kept bits and pieces just in case they might be useful one day. This built up the huge, fascinating collection of tools and artefacts you can see at the yard today."

Having seen Margaret turn items such as used party poppers, plug protectors, tile spacers and dried up felt pens into vital ingredients of something new, Mary Macmahon, the UNISON retirement group's joint social secretary commented: 'I will definitely look at rubbish differently from now on.'

The yard re-opens for the summer, entry free, on Easter Saturday. More information can be found on www.chedhamsyard.org.uk