George Smallwood’s Bee Eco Shed has won the coveted title of overall winner in the 11th annual Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition.

After a nail-biting competition, the Bee Eco Shed that was made in Sheffield beat 2,900 entries in a competition that received more than 16,000 public votes.

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.

Andrew Wilcox, founder of Cuprinol's Shed of the Year said: "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."

When asked about his winning shed, creator George said: "Coming in at the top spot was such a welcome surprise! 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."

The Pub and Entertainment category was OSmithers by Doug Smith from 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.

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