Booths Garden Studios launches new garden studio design (video)

Pictured above is the new studio and annexe design which Booths Garden Studios have been working on for most of the last year. It has a number of improvements - particularly in terms of strengthening the structure, a new flyover design, and smaller bits and bobs such as clever lighting - and these have been thoroughly documented in a series of useful short videos (something Booths is particularly good at), the first one of which you can find below and then follow the links to the rest.

The new studio models are now called the QCB4 and the QC7 as Booths no longer supplies the QCB2, or QC6). All the improvements have been incorporated into both designs and the only difference between the QCB4 and the QC7 is that the roof of the QC7 can accommodate downlights in the ceiling and the roof has an overhang around the studio. 

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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

 

Managers, parents and over 30s are more likely to hybrid work

The Office for National Statistics' latest survey makes for interesting reading about the types of workers most likely to be following a hybrid working pattern and how they spend their time.

According to its Opinions and Lifestyle survey, more than a quarter of working adults in Great Britain (28%) were hybrid working this autumn (slightly surprisingly, the trend in working only from home has fallen since 2021). Hybrid working is more common among those aged over 30, parents, those working as managers or professionals, and those in industries that require less face-to-face contact. Those with higher qualifications were also more likely to hybrid work. Pictured top is the percentage of working adults by working arrangement in Britain between January 2021 to October this year.

Those working from home saved an average of 56 minutes that day from not commuting, and findings suggest that some of that time was spent on rest, exercise, sports and well-being. 

People who worked from home on a given day spent an average of 24 minutes more on ‘sleep and rest’ and 15 minutes more on ‘exercise, sports and well-being’ on the respective day compared with those who worked away from home. Indeed, 'Improved staff well-being' has continued to be one of the most frequently reported business reasons for using or intending to use increased hybrid and homeworking, according to the ONS's Business Insights and Conditions Survey.
 
Of people surveyed between April 10 and 30 June 2024, 29% of workers aged 30 years and older followed a hybrid working pattern, compared with 19% for those aged 16 to 29 years old. Working parents were more likely to hybrid work (35%) compared with working non-parents (24%). And male working parents were more likely to hybrid work than female working parents (41% compared with 30% respectively).
 
Close to half (45%) of those in more senior occupations e.g. managers, directors and senior officials followed a hybrid working model, compared with 27% of all workers. Workers with a degree or equivalent qualification were 10 times more likely to hybrid work than those with no qualifications (42% compared with 4% respectively).

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

New Idler shed column focuses on individuality

The new issue of the Idler magazine is out now. In my regular shed/garden office column I look at the remarkable inviduality on show on the interiors of garden buildings, including the recent winner of Shed of the Year (away from the world of sheds my column on Idler Heros looks at the diaries of the chap who inspired Withnail in Withnail and I). Available all over the place but ideally via a subscription - details at the link above.

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Monday posts are sponsored by Cosy Garden Rooms, the UK's No. 1 bespoke garden room designer and builder.

Friday Finery: Writer's shepherd's hut

This week's finery ushers in the weekend with this idyllically-placed writer's hut from shepherd's hut specialists Plankbridge.

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

 

HS2 bat shed cost £100m+

Could HS2 have built the most expensive shed ever? According to Si Jon Thompson, HS2's chair, who was talking at the Rail Industry Association conference today about the costs of the whole project, a kilometre-long 'bat shed' had to be erected in woodland alongside the new high-speed line in Sheephouse Wood, Buckinghamshire to save a colony of Bechstein’s bats. While Shedworking is very much on the bats' side, Thompson admitted that the shed - which cost north of £100m - had been built without any evidence that bats were actually in danger. And indeed Natural England has said it did not stipulate such a structure was vital. Plenty of media have covered this story, including the Guardian here, if you'd like more details.

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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.

 

Beach hut painting sells for £12,000

This lovely oil painting by Scottish artist Alberto Morocco of a lido beach hut recently sold at auction by The Cotswold Auction Company for £12,000.

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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

 

e-Snug garden office

If you like the shepherd's hut vibe but don't want to go full shepherd's hut, then perhaps something like this from East Yorkshire-based My Garden Studio might suit. It has all the normal must haves, but what the Shedworking staff like in particular is the curved roof line. There are several sizes on offer, though there is also a fully bespoke service - this one pictured is 2m x 2m but there is an even smaller 1.4m x 1.4m option if you are really pushed for space. 

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