MP Cuts the Ribbon — with a Pair of Loppers — as ShareFest Totnes Draws Over 800 People
South Devon’s MP Caroline Voaden officially opened the ShareFest event in Totnes on Saturday 18th April — using a pair of loppers borrowed from the Share Shed van to cut the ribbon — as more than 800 people came together to repair, share, make and swap. The event also marked the public launch of a new Tech Amnesty initiative, with over 100kg of old devices collected for refurbishment and recycling.
Totnes Civic Hall was transformed into a hive of creativity and community spirit on Saturday 18th April, as the Share Shed – A Library of Things and the Network of Wellbeing hosted the second annual ShareFest — a free, family-friendly celebration of sharing, repairing, making and swapping. The event drew more than 800 people from across South Devon, making it the biggest ShareFest to date.
The day got under way with a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the occasion: MP Caroline Voaden officially opened the event by cutting a ribbon — not with ceremonial scissors, but with a pair of loppers borrowed from the Share Shed van parked outside St Mary’s Church on the High Street. It was, many agreed, exactly the right tool for the job.
Visitors packed the Civic Hall throughout the day, taking advantage of a full programme of free activities. The Repair Café was busy from the moment the doors opened, with skilled volunteers helping to fix household appliances, tools, toys and clothing. The clothes swap, seed and plant swap drew steady crowds, while skillshare workshops in needle felting, darning, coil basket making, letter writing and wheel weaving gave people the chance to learn something new alongside their neighbours.
Outside, the Share Shed van found itself unexpectedly surrounded by Morris dancers — an unplanned encounter that delighted passers-by and perfectly captured the joyful, unpredictable spirit of the day.
Mirella Ferraz, Project Manager said “We set out to create something that would bring people together — and Saturday surpassed every expectation. To see 800 people of all ages and backgrounds repairing, sharing, learning and singing together was incredibly moving. And the moment Caroline cut the ribbon with a borrowed pair of loppers said everything about what the Share Shed is all about: why buy something you only need once, when you can borrow it from this community asset?”
Tech Amnesty Launch: 100kg of Devices Given a New Life
ShareFest also marked the public launch of a new Tech Amnesty initiative, delivered in partnership with The Fixy Project and Donate IT. Visitors brought old laptops, phones, tablets and cables that might otherwise have ended up in landfill — and by the end of the day, over 100kg of devices had been collected to be either securely refurbished and donated to people facing digital poverty, or responsibly recycled.
The Tech Amnesty will continue beyond ShareFest, with drop-off points available through the Share Shed across South Devon.
Borrow, Don’t Buy: Join the Share Shed
The loppers that cut Saturday’s ribbon are just one of more than 350 items available to borrow from the Share Shed — South Devon’s mobile Library of Things, operated by the Network of Wellbeing. From power tools, party kits and carpet cleaners to camping gear, gardening equipment and much more, the Share Shed van travels to seven communities across South Devon, making it easy and affordable to borrow rather than buy.
Annual membership starts from just £5 a month, and is completely free for anyone on a low income. Since launching, the Share Shed has provided nearly 7,900 loans to more than 3,800 people, saving members over £527,000 and significantly reducing the region’s carbon footprint. The Share Shed visits the following communities on a weekly basis: Totnes, Dartington, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge and South Brent.
To find out more or to become a member, visit www.shareshed.org.uk or speak to the team at one of the regular van stops.