Monty Don's writing shed

Gardener and broadcaster Monty Don has posted a photo of his garden office on Twitter captioned "Writing shed in the early morning light" and he is getting plenty of positive reaction...

I spend ages thinking what would look beautiful there and can see you thought about everything, the roof shape reflecting the trees with delicate honeysuckle adding to the heavenly perfume, tall and erect, soft and billowing, gorgeous white always bringing light,rustic, stunningx

— Viv (@anotherviv) July 30, 2019

Mary Price: shedworker

There's an interview with Bristol-based artist Mary Price (who we mentioned last week as a finalist in the Shed of the Year 2019 competition) who works out of her Dunster House Lantera log cabin on the Dunster blog. Here's a snippet:

I have always painted, but since having a studio in my garden, my practice has transformed. For years I worked at the dining table and had to pack everything away after each painting session. Now I can leave work on the easel or table and carry on where I left off without having to set up art supplies each and every time. I still really appreciate this.

You can vote for Mary's shed here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning

Beach hut news roundup: Prices and police

 
It's that time of the year again when seaside sheds aka beach huts start to hit the headlines again. As always, it's the ludicrous price of beach huts on Mudeford Spit, Christchurch, Dorset that the media love to get up in arms about (the Metro is particularly 'outraged'). Pictured above is one of the most expensive, on at £275,000 with beach hut specialists Denisons which was built only eight years ago. It's double glazed and insulated, with a battery-operated pumped water system and water tank under the hut, gas water heater, inside lavatory with removable waste tank, mezzanine floor for sleeping, plus fridge, and solar panels. Could just about sleep 6.

For just the price of a pint however, reports the Bournemouth Echo, you could nip along to the Nelson Tavern in Mudeford and relax in their new beach hut-style booths.

And finally in Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire, police have set up summer shop in one of the resort's beach huts in an excellent piece of community policing.

“The chalet is absolutely beautiful and located on a beautiful stretch of the beach," said Sgt Cherry Kelly. "It was kindly donated to us for 2019 by Mablethorpe & Sutton on Sea Town Council and we’re just thrilled with it. Holidaymakers are a community in themselves over the summer so not only does the chalet give us that presence at the very heart of the community during the busy summer months, meaning we can respond quickly to any live incidents that might occur as well as actively engaging with the public, but when the season dies down in the winter we can use it to show other chalet owners how to protect their property.

“Some of the chalets are vandalised in the colder months and we want to show owners how to protect them. Ours has been decked out with fire resistant paint, specific locks and bars, and special film over the windows. While I would love to have my team patrol the chalet area permanently, it’s just not possible and so we’re hoping that showing owners how to protect their huts will help prevent any damage to them."  -------------------------------------------------
Monday posts are sponsored by garden2office, the Swedish garden office specialists. Click here for more details.

Large log cabin

Here's an interesting custom-designed large log cabin (7m x 4m) in 70mm timber by Garden Affairs in Bristol with an integral 1.5m store room and half glazed door. It has a flat roof reaching up to 2.5m high and is used as a general purpose garden room for family including a bar. Features include roof and floor insulation, double glazing, factory painted doors/windows, plus of course full electrics. -------------------------------------------------------

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

Shed of the Year finalists announced

The finalists in this year's Cuprinol Shed of the Year have been announced as the judges have whittled down the entries from hundreds to just three finalists per category - these will go head-to-shed in a bid to win the coveted title. This year a new category has been added with entrants being invited to show off their 'Nature’s Haven' with designs inspired by nature and the other categories are Unexpected, Cabin/Summerhouse, Workshop and Studio, Pub and Entertainment, Budget and Unique.

The two that particularly caught the Shedworking staff's eye were Mary Price's blue artist’s workshop in Bristol (above and here if you want to vote) and Stuart Campbell's The Ark (top and here if you want to vote for it) where he makes musical instruments and small furniture, but there are plenty more examples including for those who like a bit of 'thats not a shed' controversy, a live-in shed/lorry in Hampshire, a Shakespeare themed boat-come-shed, and a playhouse that required planning permission

A winner from each category will be decided by a public vote, then an overall winner will be crowned by a panel of shed experts with a giant golden crown for the winning shed. The best shed will receive £1,000, a plaque, and £100 of Cuprinol products.

Head judge and founder of the competition, Andrew Wilcox, said: “We’ve been absolutely blown away by the incredible, imaginative and innovative sheds entered into this year’s competition. Every year there are more and more outstanding entries that take us by surprise. The creativity and imagination of all entrants never fail to amaze the judges. This year’s bunch are second to none. We’ve been really impressed by the aesthetics of the sheds - especially those that entered the brand new Nature’s Haven category with entrants really demonstrating how important it is to welcome nature into our lives and our gardens.”

Public voting is now underway for the 13th annual competition and will close on 29 August. You can cast your vote at www.readersheds.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional buildings.

Writer's shed covered in ivy

A remarkable 10 square metres garden office build by Australian architect Matt Gibson for a client in Melbourne. While it's lovely and light inside where everything is plywood-finished, it's outside that attracts the attention since the entire building is covered in fast-growing Boston ivy on top of a synthetic rubber membrance of Butynol which is waterproof, resists ageing, and also acts as insulation.

Via dezeen where there are lots more photos as there are also on houzz.

Jobs with the UK Men's Sheds Assocation

Jobs in the shed world don't come up that frequently so it's pleasing to see the UK Men's Sheds Assocation advertising for a couple of positions, Digital Communication Officer (fixed term) to manage the website, social media and monthly newsletter, and Membership & Support Services Officer (Maternity Cover) who is the first point of contact/public face of UKMSA.  Closing date is midnight on August 11 and interviews will be on 29 and 30 August. More details at the link above. Good luck!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning