Of course we all want to help a sick child, but what to do?

Making oak Kubb sets with beech batons that I give away in return for a charitable donation to the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service is the simple answer I hit on, because it leaves the hard, skillful and caring work to this wonderful charity.

Alexander Devine started by funding Alexander nurses and is now running the first children's hospice service in Berkshire.

The effort of making and the fun of playing the timeless garden game of Kubb, becomes a little more meaningful when it has helped support sick children, some of whom may never have the opportunity to play the game themselves.

If you haven't played Kubb, you should give it a go. It can be enjoyed by friends and family of all ages and abilities, with no scoring and few rules to spoil the fun of throwing sticks at lumps of wood in the hope of knocking some over. (If you ditch the rule about standing up 'field kubbs' after they have been knocked down and simply discard them when hit, the game is quicker and more enjoyable - sorry purists).

It is funny how a pile of oak logs for the wood-burner looks surprisingly like a jumble of Kubb sets, if you squint hard, and to prove the point I worked a few logs into replacement Kubb pieces. Making a King trophy for a charity Kubb event was a bit of fun and a complete set for my father's 90th birthday party worked out rather well, and having finally realised that posts were a better source of oak than my wood pile, a few more Kubb sets followed for birthday presents and friends. The requests kept coming.

Each Kubb set takes me a fair bit of time to make and while I enjoyed giving them away to friends, I didn't want to accept the payments everyone offered and worried that the endeavor might become a chore.

Ta-dah a donation to charity!

Now everyone is happy: I have a sense of purpose when sawing wood late into the evening; offers of donations can be accepted; and best of all, through a family game we are all helping sick children - how appropriate that feels.

All donations are welcomed, but I am unable to promise a Kubb set in return, unless you check with me first that I have one available.

I am only able to send kubb sets to addresses in the UK (using DPD - 7.5 Kg) and I now include a wooden box in addition to a canvas bag to help with packaging.

Charities continue to struggle with fundraising since the coronavirus pandemic so if I have confirmed that I am able to reserve a set for you, I have slightly increased the minimum donation to £120; I also feel the time has come to ask for £30 towards the cost shipping and wood - my time spent making the set is still free.

A set will cost you £150 in total.

Your donation and any more you feel you can afford, will be appreciated by the children that Alexander Devine is working so hard to help.

Thank you.

Nick