For those with a garden, lockdown has given an opportunity to make sure it’s looking its best.
So it’s no surprise that this year’s Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition has had more applicants than ever before.
Now in its 15th year, judges saw a record-breaking 331 entrants vying for shed glory – more than double the entries seen in the 2020 competition.
Now the 22 finalists have been revealed, with a former navy veteran who built a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-inspired shed and a businesswoman who launched a bra-fitting boutique among those competing for the top prize.
Three have been shortlisted in the Budget, Cabin/Summerhouse, Pub & Entertainment, Unexpected/Unique, Workshop/Studio and Nature’s Haven categories, while four are competing in the Lockdown category, which was introduced last year.
The public will vote for a winner in each category and a team of judges will then decide who gets crowned the overall Shed of the Year, earning themselves a £1,000 prize, a plaque and £100 of Cuprinol products.
Lockdown
Pub/entertainment
Nature’s Haven
Cabin/summerhouse
Workshop/studio
Budget
Unexpected/unique
Head judge and founder of the competition Andrew Wilcox said: ‘The past year has been an incredibly challenging time for all of us and, now more than ever, we’re aware of how important the humble shed can be.
‘Sheds are not just unloved, brown structures at the bottom of the garden that house tools and household junk, they are vital spaces where you can go to relax, work on a project or burn off some steam.
‘The high-calibre entries this year really prove why we set up the competition in the first place – to highlight the valuable role sheds can play in our lives, in our businesses and the positive impact they have on our wellbeing.’
Kirsty Woodbine, Marketing Manager for Cuprinol, added: ‘We are overwhelmed by the amount and quality of entries we’ve received this year.
‘The sheds were of such a high standard that narrowing them down to just 22 was an incredibly difficult task.
‘The level of innovation, imagination and creativity we’ve seen has been incredible, as has the number of people using their sheds as dedicated spaces to help others in their community. This year’s contest has been truly life affirming.’
Public voting opens on Wednesday, June 2 and will close on Monday, July 12.
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