- Stunning eco-friendly shed has been crowned Shed of the Year 2018
- George Smallwood’s “Bee Eco Shed” has won the coveted title of overall winner in the 11th annual Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition
- Environmentally friendly shed beat musical boat-shed and Irish pub to the top spot
After a nail-biting competition, Bee Eco Shed from Sheffield has today been crowned the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2018 winner. Following an enormous 2,900 entries and over 16,000 public votes, George Smallwood’s sheddie ecosystem beat all other contestants to the top spot, and was awarded the coveted title of overall winner.
The overall winner was decided along with the category winners by this year’s judging panel: competition founder and Head Sheddie, Andrew Wilcox, Cuprinol’s Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, and 2017 Shed of the Year winner Ben Swanborough.
A celebration of the wonders of nature, the Bee Eco Shed is the ideal place to admire the incredible life that can be found in the outdoors. George Smallwood started out building a base for a ready-made shed, but felt inspired and decided to create the whole structure himself. Today, it is used as a space of discovery as George interacts with the different species occupying his shed. In this entirely self-watering and self-sufficient space, the vegetables, herb garden, bugs and bees can truly thrive.
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Cuprinol said: As we move into an age of sustainability the 5th room of the home is going to become increasingly important in helping create environmentally friendly, functional solutions for the family and community (which are also appealing to the eye!). There are some really simple ways to recreate these looks and solutions in your own garden and we hope the competition will inspire the nation to make the most of their outdoor space?
After winning the competition’s Eco category, the Bee Eco Shed went head to head with the other seven top quality category winners: O’Smithers by Doug Smith (Pub/Entertainment), The Limes by Mike Allport (Cabin/Summerhouse), Boat Pod by Barnaby Dearsly (Unique), Viking Bauhutte by Chris Walter (Workshop/Studio), Tudor Playhouse by Craig Clavin (Budget), The Bush Inn by John Parks (Historic) and Piano Raft by Ben Cummins (Unexpected).
Bee Eco Shedowner, George Smallwood, is taking home the coveted title along with £1,000 courtesy of sponsors Cuprinol, £100 of Cuprinol products, a winner’s plaque and a giant crown for his shed.
When asked about his winning shed, creator George said: ?Coming in at the top spot was such a welcome suprise! When we started the project we never could have dreamed we’d be here now. We hope our shed will inspire others around the UK to create spaces for wildlife in their gardens. There were so many innovative and creative sheds this year, so we’re absolutely thrilled to have been crowned the winner of Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2018!?
Andrew Wilcox, Founder of Cuprinol?s Shed of the Year says: The competition was extremely tough this year, from a musical shed on the water, to a taxi, to an authentic Irish pub. With strong contenders winning all eight category awards it was a difficult decision for the judges. George’s shed stood due to its impressive, hand-made structure but also because of its unique story and special purpose. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to crown Bee Eco Shed the winner.
For those feeling inspired to create their own shed visit the Cuprinol website
Category winners
PUB & ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY WINNER
OSmithers – owned by Doug Smith in Blackpool, Hambleton
This one-of-a-kind shed houses an exact replica of a genuine commercial Irish pub. The rugby-themed bar was built three years ago before being doubled in size last year due to its popularity. From the outside, this shed could be confused with Blackpool Tower thanks to a 25ft replica of Blackpool Tower on the roof, originally built by Vickers Armstrong Apprentices during the Second World War and later restored and updated by Doug.
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6426
ECO CATEGORY WINNER
The Bee Eco Shed – owned by George Smallwood in Sheffield
A celebration of the wonders of nature, the Bee Eco Shed is the ideal place to admire the incredible life that can be found in the outdoors. George Smallwood started out building a base for a ready-made shed, but felt inspired and decided to create the whole structure himself. Today, it is used as a space of discovery as George interacts with the different species occupying his shed. In this entirely self-watering and self-sufficient space, the vegetables, herb garden, bugs and bees can truly thrive.
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6383
CABIN & SUMMERHOUSES CATEGORY WINNER
The Limes – owned by Michael Long in the City of London
Living in London, Michael wanted to create a social space using all the wasted materials from the construction work happening around the city. As the grandson of a shed aficionado, he built this shed as an homage to his grandparents, and even has the original sign from their home, dubbed “The Limes”. The repurposed materials form a cosy and warm environment existing in harmony with the vast and fresh outdoors they reside in. With its own wood burning stove, elevated drinks holders and built in planters, The Limes shed is the perfect place for friends and family to come together.
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6113
UNIQUE CATEGORY WINNER
Boat Pod – owned by Barnaby Dearsly in Exeter, Devon
Built by Barnaby Dearsly as a writer’s retreat, garden folly, artist studio and children’s hideaway, Boat Pod is built from the upturned bow section of an original decommissioned fish trawler built in 1945. Fitted with electrical sockets, a bespoke stove sourced from the original mast-step, engineered oak flooring and a sail canvas door, this shed is sure to delivers an authentic feel. It has even been recorked and made watertight using marine resin!
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6314
WORKSHOP & STUDIO CATEGORY WINNER
Viking Bauhutte – owned by Chris Walter in Hampshire
This piece of craftsmanship is named after a time in the middle ages when craftsmen and artisans would stay in a shed on a building site – the Bauhutte – and discuss their building and design ideas over tea (or mead). The shed is a workshop, an artists’ studio, a family craft room and a space where owner Chris can design and build cameras. The Viking motif came to life as the shed took shape and began to look like an upturned boat (and as a result of Chris’ two young daughters watching “How to Train your Dragon” a countless number of times).
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6513
BUDGET CATEGORY WINNER
Tudor Playhouse – owned by Craig Clavin in Norfolk
This perfect little playhouse has had some unexpected but wonderful little helpers to help bring the shed project to life. Four-year-old brothers Hugo & Ralph’s hammering skills were instrumental in creating this vintage little play room alongside their Father Craig. The shed was built from mostly reclaimed / salvaged materials, and despite them both being only three and a half years old at the time, Craig says it has so far represented a great father/son(s) project.
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6302
HISTORIC CATEGORY WINNER
The Bush Inn – owned by John Parks in West Sussex, Hull
Originally built to form part of a recreated wartime village in Kent, The Bush Inn is built to represent pubs of the period era, and is erected at various war revival shows across the UK. During those festivals, re-enactors and veterans come together in this historic shed to play darts, dominos, cards or just for some entertaining banter. John and Joy Parks have gone above and beyond to create an authentic experience at their pub, encouraging guests to bring their own drinks and serving them in period glassware, and even prepping the floors with some beer to give The Bush Inn that instantly recognizable pub smell. The Bush Inn is certainly popular amongst history aficionados, and is represents an important time in history.
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6048
Unexpected / #NOTASHED CATEGORY WINNER
Piano Raft – owned by Ben Cummins in West Yorkshire, Saltaire
Perhaps the most unusual of all of the shortlisted contestants is this self-made floating shed. Not only has the creator, Ben, spent the past five years building the structure piece by piece using reclaimed materials he finds on his journeys, but he has also spent that time manually pulling his shed on skis from Liverpool to Leeds. If you thought that may not have been complex of difficult enough, he has also started to transform the into a musical instrument.
Link: http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=6348
