Lockdown inspires Shed of the Year award entrants

Two new categories cater to those who have used the time to repurpose their sheds.

A PPE workshop supplying visors to the NHS and a garden school are among the projects competing for the annual Shed of the Year crown.

Lockdown has inspired the nation to take their sheds to more imaginative heights, with two new categories catering to those who have used the time working on their garden outposts.

The new categories in the Cuprinol Shed of the Year awards are Lockdown Repurpose, for people who have transformed their existing shed in response to the pandemic, and Lockdown New-build, for those who have started from scratch.

Sarah McGoldrick used her shed to create PPE for frontline NHS staff (Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2020/PA)

Teacher Ashley Bates, from London, used the opportunity to create The Shed School, a free online educational platform for key stage one pupils.

Ashley Bates used his shed to teach children during school closures (Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2020/PA)

Also included is Pat Crook, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, who recreated a beach hut to provide soothing surroundings for her father, who suffers from dementia.

Joe Melton transformed his shed into a bar after a family holiday to Florida was cancelled (Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2020/PA)

The overall winner will receive £1,000, a plaque and £100 of Cuprinol products.

Head judge and founder of the competition Andrew Wilcox said: “More than ever, the events of recent months have shown us what a valuable role sheds can play in our lives.

Pat Crook created this space for her father who has dementia (Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2020/PA)

“They highlight all that is great about Britain – our ingenuity, our eccentricity and our determination to help others.”

Last year’s competition was won by Chris Shield of Buxton, Derbyshire, whose Hobbit-inspired hideaway was described by Mr Wilcox as “brilliantly creative”.