About 15 men have been working since November to come up with a lightweight and durable design to be put to the test over the coming year.

The boxes will be mounted on trees in backyards throughout Thurgoona and Splitters Creek to help avoid the species, which is listed as threatened in NSW, from becoming extinct.

Albury Conservation Company contracted the men’s shed to make the boxes as an additional habitat for the animal.

Project co-ordinator Sam Niedra said squirrel gliders usually live in older trees that have hollows and these are becoming increasingly hard to find.

“We are targeting properties that have a tree of sufficient size to support a nest box, which is within 40 metres of other mature trees, particularly eucalypts providing a safe gliding distance,” Mr Niedra said.

“This is giving owners and renters of small properties the opportunity to help conserve a threatened species literally from the comfort of their own home.

“We are asking recipients of the nest boxes to do some monitoring and provide feedback.”

Men’s shed member Rick Taylor said the project fits in with the group’s values as a non-profit community organisation.

He said the purpose of the shed was to get men together to socialise and work together to improve mental health and wellbeing.

“A lot of blokes here had a bit to do with it and we are very pleased to see them go and be used,” Mr Taylor said.

“We started with a bit of scrap plywood and a model and went from there.”

The men designed the boxes with rubber around the top to make observation easier with less-disturbance for the animal.

The project was funded by the NSW Environmental Trust through the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative and came to life with assistance from Albury Wodonga Kitchen and Albury Galvanising.

Properties will need to meet certain criteria which can be discussed with Sam Niedra on 0448 806 256.