Shed of the year 2024, Sponsored by 
Telegraph pole to climb up, micro wood burner to keep cosy and heat the tea, fully insulated for all year use, mezzanine to lounge and sleep over, clamber net for quick access, deck to take in the sun and repel invaders, west facing mezzanine wall hatch to explore the tree tops and enjoy the sunset view.
It started with my young son persuading me that I should build him and his little sister a treehouse. No harm in that. But then he wrote a list of MUST HAVES - An opening window, lights, door with a lock, chairs, a fire with a chimney and a flag. Quickly I realized that rather than build a play room that they would outgrow, it should be a place that would let mum and dad, friends, & family all return to a little childhood escapism. We needed to have a mezzanine to lounge and sleepover. It had to be insulated to let us use all year round. A floor hatch would add a feeling of climbing up into a secret den. A south facing balcony deck would be great for sitting in the sun or repelling invading armies. Finally it needed a wall hatch to give a true feeling of being up in the trees and west facing to enjoy the sunset. I started digging the founds Nov '14 and completed everything by Nov'15. We did everything barring the electrics ourselves, with the children varnishing, tiling and doing some joinery. Even though it is fairly small our little lodge can fit 12 children, parents and grandparents, and everyone enjoys feeling young again.
