In April 2017, Waltons featured in the The Grand Shed Project, a brand new garden feature at the award-winning home event, Grand Designs Live. For this project, Five interior and garden designers from around the UK transformed Waltons’ 10ft x 8ft Tradesman Wooden Sheds, creating unique spaces with their own individual twist.
Of course, these wonderful creations were only temporary, leaving us with five sheds in need of new homes. Waltons donated these sheds to UK charities championing the benefits of gardening, to provide help and support to people in their surrounding communities.
Read on, and follow each shed’s journey from the Grand Designs showroom to their new garden homes.
NAS, Milton Keynes branch - ‘The Sewing Shack’ shed
Designed by Jules Holgate, The Sewing Shack’s bright colour scheme and upcycled, charity shop furniture transformed our shed into a crafters haven. Now, The Sewing Shack adds a touch of colour to the National Autistic Society's (NAS) Milton Keynes day center. Branch manager, Irina, commented:
We were busy out and about with our day center clients and we were so surprised to see the shed standing nicely tucked in the corner ... we don't get much support off local businesses and it’s amazing to see there are still kind and caring people out there
The Milton Keynes NAS center is currently renovating the garden as part of their partnership with National Garden Scheme, and we look forward to seeing their new shed put to good use once the work is complete!
NAS, Denbighshire branch - ‘Boutique Bedroom’ shed
London-based designer, Katie Greenhalf, combined subtle shades and soft furnishing to transform our 10ft X 8ft shed into a boutique bedroom. Perfect for relaxing with a good book.
It seems this shed was destined to be the ultimate place to unwind. Young people at the NAS Denbighshire branch have already asked to use it as their very own chill out zone. Branch manager, Mel, says that it provides an opportunity to:
...get involvement from some of our youngsters who are really not interested in gardening, but can’t wait to design the interior of the shed. They want to use it as a chill out zone
The shed takes pride of place, beside the 6 raised beds looked after by the families who visit the Denbighshire Branch.
NAS, Herefordshire branch - ‘Bringing Outdoors In’ shed
Grand Designs’ ‘Garden designer of the year’, Liam Sapsford, stuck to what he knew best when decorating our 10ft X 8ft wooden shed. Paving slabs, living moss and contemporary lighting bridged the gap between indoors and out, encouraging people to spend more time in their outside space.
This outdoor-indoors shed is now with the NAS Herefordshire branch. They've given it a fresh lick of paint to match their picnic benches, creating the perfect space to enjoy the outdoors.
Like Milton Keynes and Denbighshire, the Herefordshire branch make good use of their outdoor space. Branch manager Debbie says:
Gardens offer calm, sensory environments for many autistic people, helping to reduce their anxiety. Seeing the results of their focus and working in the garden can also grow their sense of self-worth.
The ‘Bringing Outdoors In’ shed will be used to expand their current gardening club.
Thrive, Birmingham branch - ‘Reading Snug’ shed
Winner of The Grand Shed Project, Rebecca Jones, created a bespoke sofa and shelving unit to maximise space and turn our shed into the ultimate reading retreat. She even made a dog bed for furry friends to snuggle up and enjoy the space, too.
Our 10ft X 8ft shed has found a new home in Kings Heath Park, Birmingham, where Thrive’s local branch use gardening to change the lives of people with disabilities or ill health, or those who are isolated or vulnerable. PR manager, Alyson Chorley says:
...[we’re] delighted, we needed a shed to store tools safely so it was a timely donation ... It means we can spend charity funds on helping more people.
Thrive’s work has been recognised across the country, and have been supported by the BBC and gardening guru, Monty Don. We’re sure their new shed will be put to good use!
Garden Organic, Coventry - ‘South Miami Beach’ shed
Inspired by a girl’s holiday to Miami, Gemma Hill’s tropical retreat was all about creating an inviting space to relax with a magazine or catch up with friends over a drink. And what better way to create the Miami Beach vibe than with neon signs and cocktail bars?
Gemma’s South Miami style shed has now been donated to Garden Organic, who provide support and therapy through their gardening projects like ‘Growth’ and ‘Thyme to be’.
The Miami beach cocktail will now act as a countryside tea room and tool store. Garden Organic’s Lisa says:
We have been in need of somewhere to store tools in the garden for quite some time. It also means that our volunteers can take a well-deserved tea break!
We hope that the Garden Organic volunteers can enjoy a shed load of tea in their new garden building for years to come!
Charities like these can be found throughout UK, making a difference to the lives of those in their community through gardening and horticulture.
Why not visit an open-garden for charity this summer? Use the National Garden Scheme garden finder to plan a wonderful day out and show your support.
