Latest edition of The Scottish Shedder magazine out now

The November issue of the Scottish Men's Sheds Association magazine, The Scottish Shedder, is available either as a pdf here or using the online magazine version here. Features include:

* SHED IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dingwall Men’s Shed

* A PERSONAL STORY: Billy Christie from Barrhead Men’s Shed 

* SHED LIFE: Lanark Men’s Shed’s new beginning

* SHED LIFE: Stonehaven & District Men’s Shed awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 

* SHED LIFE: Ben Fogle drops in on Orkney Men’s Shed

* SHED LIFE: Aberchirder lad’s 78-hours Shedding for Duke of Edinburgh Award

* SMSA NEWS: New Shed on the Block celebrates double triumph

* SMSA EVENTS: Battle of the Shed Bands

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

 

Tiger Sheds agrees landmark display partnership with British Garden Centres Group

Specialist garden building retailer Tiger, a part of Woodlands Home & Garden Group, has just agreed a landmark deal with the British Garden Centres group which will bring Tiger showsites to 35 UK garden centres over the next three-and-a-half years.

The agreement follows a successful pilot program launched in April at British Garden Centres' flagship garden centre at Brigg in Lincolnshire and prompted both parties to commit to a long-term partnership, extending their collaboration for an additional five years at the Brigg site.

The move is another significant step forward for Tiger’s offline strategy which aims to create a network of franchise-operated locations across the UK to complement their existing online success and build on its position as the UK’s market leader in garden buildings. Since opening their first site at Woodthorpe in Lincolnshire in 1987, British Garden Centres have expanded rapidly and now have over 60 sites across the UK with plans to open more over coming years as part of their growth plans.

“As part of our growth strategy, we are incredibly excited to be partnering with the prestigious British Garden Centres Group," said Ged Lees, Managing Director at Woodlands Home & Garden Group, "and the partnership reflects the shared culture, values, and growth ambitions between the two businesses. We are delighted to have signed this exclusive deal, which will allow us to showcase our Tiger garden buildings throughout the United Kingdom, as we believe they play a crucial role in every garden centre. 

"We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome customers and provide them with a close up opportunity to find their perfect space from our range of high quality sheds, summerhouses, garden offices and log cabins.”

Charles Stubbs, co-founder, and Director at The British Garden Centres Group added: “We strongly believe that gardens are a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Therefore, in our garden centres we strive to inspire visitors with the endless possibilities that await them in their own personal outdoor spaces. We are excited to collaborate with Tiger in this fantastic new venture. The Tiger brand has experienced growing popularity over the years, primarily due to its distinctive brand features, captivating TV commercials and its rich heritage.  After the successful pilot scheme at Brigg, we can’t wait to get started with our longer term plans.”

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.

Jerome K Jerome's writing summerhouse for sale

Around the time of writing Three Men in a Boat (1889), the writer Jerome K Jerome bought this rather nice place, Goulds Grove (it also goes under the name of 'Troy'), a Grade II-listed Georgian house not far from Henley-on-Thames. This is where he lived and worked from 1895 to 1908, writing in the summerhouse which you can see at the middle left of your picture. In his autobiography he calls it "an old farmhouse on the hill above Wallingford".

The circular flint-and-thatch summerhouse was also used by Jerome's literary guests, the likes of H.G. Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle nipping in during frequent visits to scribble away.

It's on with Savills and you won't get any change out of £6 million if you want to make an offer, but to be fair it's a lovely home and does have a nice swimming pool (visible close to the summerhouse) and tennis court, not to mention two theatres built by Jerome.

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Monday posts are sponsored by Tiny House Cabins. Beautiful cabins for all year round... oozing character! 

Friday Finery: Plankbridge officially launch the Hut House

 

 

We covered Plankbridge's move into the tiny house market previously on Shedworking, but it's officially launched today. It's a thing of beauty and this first model is actually on sale so it could be yours.

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A post shared by Plankbridge Shepherd’s Huts (@plankbridge)

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

 

Shedworking in the House of Commons and House of Lords

It's been a momentous week for mentions of working in shepherds' huts this week in Parliament. Here's what David Cameron had to say on the subject in his maiden speech to the House of Lords:

 

And here's what Keir Starmer added in the House of Commons by way of reply:

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 Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and   

 studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional

 buildings.

The Porter’s Lodge from The Queen’s College, Oxford

 

 

An opportunity here for some historic shedworking. The late 19th century porter's lodge from The Queen's College, Oxford, has recently been replaced by a new structure and the old glazed and stained timber lean-to building facade is now for sale at Lassco. Features include three entrance doors, the canted end with sliding hatch and a registration booth "sentry-box" extension with a fourth door. It's pictured above all stretched out and would make somebody a marvellous garden office.

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

SMART's new Living Space concept

SMART Garden Rooms, Offices & Studios, the Suffolk-based award-winning manufacturer of quality outdoor buildings has launched a full-service upgrade of its entire range for customers looking to use their garden rooms as high-quality, innovative living spaces.
 
The company, which has built up a formidable reputation for market-leading innovations over the last few years, has just launched its SMART Living Space concept.
 
This new upgraded line now means that SMART offers rooms that can be used specifically for living in – and not just working in. Seven of the SMART ranges can be upgraded to a Living Space.
 
According to SMART chief executive, Matt Moss: “Customer feedback has shown us that there is a growing demand for garden rooms that can be used for a wider range of purposes and, crucially, as additional accommodation for family members.
 
“The construction and legal specifications for such buildings are much greater than for traditional garden rooms. With SMART Living Space we fully employ our renowned quality, attention-to-detail and expertise to deliver home-from-home living spaces, with all the comforts and top-notch design with which SMART has become synonymous.”
 
The SMART Living Space service offers a 20-year structural warranty, a waterproofed WC area with partition wall and sliding door, climate control heating, enhanced insulation and electrics, plus a Certificate of Lawful Development, ensuring that all regulations have been adhered to.
 
Paul Sheppard, SMART’s managing director, added: “SMART Living Space is a further step up of our existing garden room products: in effect a  great alternative to an annex or an extension, at a fraction of the cost, and one which will retain its value.
 
“We believe that what we are offering here is a way to keep family members  together that otherwise might otherwise have to live apart from each other, whether that be older teenage children or elderly vulnerable parents.
 
“For a company with a continuous track record of doing things better before our competition, SMART Living Space is more than just another innovation. We believe that it is even better than that!”
 
For more information about SMART Living Space, the company has set up a bespoke website: https://smb-living.com/living-spaces

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Malvern Garden Buildings offer a premium collection of garden buildings, displayed at 11 UK showsites.