Monday, March 18, 2024

UK Men’s Sheds host ‘The Parliament Shed’ in Westminster

UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) have erected a Men’s Shed at Portcullis House in the Palace of Westminster estate and will man it until March 22 in a drive to raise awareness of men’s wellbeing and the Men’s Shed movement.

‘The Parliament Shed’ has been custom-built and is designed to highlight the health, wellbeing and social benefits of community-run Men’s Sheds and the key areas where Sheds make an impact. Expert partners from partners and shedders such as the Zero Suicide Alliance and the Centre for Ageing Better are joining UKMSA and shedders from around the UK to explain the causes and promote the benefits of their work. Topics include: Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Men’s Health and Loneliness. 

With more than 1,100 Men’s Sheds across the UK and over 33,000 ‘Shedders’, the UKMSA aims to use this platform to engage with people working in the parliamentary estate and government to raise the profile of the Men’s Sheds movement, and highlight the causes and partners engaged at the event.

Charlie Bethel, chief executive officer said: “Men’s Sheds work because they are a simple concept people can relate to. Whether it is a Shed building bird boxes or mending football boots and bikes to give to disadvantaged children in their communities, you can see a real pride and sense of achievement in everyone who comes through the door of a Shed."

In addition, UKMSA will be announcing a formal partnership with Royal British Legion at The Parliament Shed. "Many Sheds in the UK have veterans in. With the Royal British Legion we hope to increase that number by helping Sheds become more accessible, particularly for people with conditions such as PTSD. We believe this agreement will also see more Sheds opened and we can have more of an impact on communities across the UK. We are particularly proud to be working on establishing Dementia Sheds across the six RBL Care Homes," explained Bethel.

The Parliament Shed was donated by Wickes, Onduline and Power Sheds and has been adapted by Black Park Shed in Buckinghamshire for the week-long event in Parliament. Tools, equipment and supplies have been provided by Axminster Tools Ltd, TiteFix and Ronseal.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Friday finery: spring log cabin


With spring just around the corner, here's a lovely shot of an Arctic Cabins build enjoying the sun. Here's what Arctic Cabins say about it: "The appeal of log cabins lies in their connection to nature, their durability & the escape from the pressures of modern life. From the ancient log cabins to the modern-day BBQ retreats they continue to captivate." 

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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Mudeford beach hut on sale for £480k


Brace yourself for the start of a new season of remarkable asking prices for beach huts. The latest comes from our old friend Mudeford, Christchurch, Dorset. On with beach hut specialists Denisons, it's a smidgeon under £500,000 (bought originally for £400 in the 1950s by the same family which has owned it all this time). Although the 16ft x 13ft 'Salad Days' hut is extremely well fitted out - sleeps seven (at a push), mezzanine, fridge freezer, gas cooker, camping toilet - it doesn't actually face the sea. Plus you have to factor in council tax of £630 and an annual license fee of nearly £3,000. If you're interested, do have a look at the Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Handbook.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Tram car garden office comes to auction

Here's a chance to own a garden office with considerable pedigree. Going under the hammer at Charterhouse Auctions next month is this 100-year-old Bournemouth tram car, No. 113, built by the Brush Electrical Enginnering Company and in original condition. Lovely in itself, the 23ft x 7.5ft build which originally ran between Lansdowne and Southbourne has also spent the last decade as the garden office of Richard Lee who runs Plankbridge.

"It has been like an old friend in the workshop," says Richard, who found it at a farm in Milton Abbas, "with its peeling yellow and ochre paintwork, ruby coloured glass panels and lovely old painted signage with ‘NO SMOKING ALLOWED’, ‘15 SEATS EACH SIDE’ and ‘DO NOT SPIT IN THE CAR’."

Richard Bromell from Charterhouse (pictured above with Richard) said: " We never know what we are going to be asked to auction. In nearly 40 years of working in auctioneering, this is certainly the first time I have been asked to sell a full sized tram car! 

The estimate is £3,000-4,000.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Garden art studio

A nice case study of how Laura Bird runs her Miss Bird’s School of Art from her Malvern Garden Buildings garden studio."My main goal was to have a space outside that I could teach in, so that my family could still hang out indoors," she explains. "I wanted my space to be calm and beautiful so that my students would never want to leave. 

"I live in a ground floor flat with my husband and daughter, so space isn’t plentiful. My garden studio is a saving grace as it allows me to teach my art students when the family are still in the home, or I can escape to do some painting when I need a little me time. During the summer months, it’s the perfect space to do arts and crafts with my daughter and her friends. As my garden space is so small, I needed the studio to be as big as it possibly could be, especially in length, in order to fit a group of ten children. I chose the one I did mainly because I loved the way it looked. I actually love looking at it when I’m in the house as it’s so beautiful!" 

Read the rest of the interview at the Malvern Garden Buildings site here

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Monday, March 11, 2024

New Idler magazine out now

The latest issue of the Idler is out now featuring my regular sheds column, this time looking at a jewellery business run from a garden studio, and the lowdown on  the newbook from Hoxton Mini Press, British Cabins and Hideaways. I've got several other pieces in it too including a look at Edith Wharton's idling prowess, the short travelogue The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices by good chums Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, and an interview with the author of a new book about a very famous royal miniature dollshouse (and in particular its library).

You can buy it in Waitrose, Waterstones, Smiths Travel outlets and in 70 Smiths High Street branches. It’s also available in around 50 independent bookshops and newsagents. Best thing of course is a subscription via the link above.

Friday, March 08, 2024

Friday Finery: Ian Archie Beck's dacha

No apologies for circling back to artist and writer Ian Archie Beck and his wonderful garden office 'dacha'. Here's his most recent portrait of it entitled 'Garden Studio Early Morning St Margarets', acrylic on canvas.

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