A CHALLENGE

We need a shelter for overwintering the plants. At present, it's a fight to get all the pots into the greenhouse to protect them from winter cold and frost.

One of the reasons for removing the shed at the very end of the garden was not only to make us, evaluate what was inside and whether we still needed it, but to free up that area of the garden for among other things having a space to store plants in pots over winter.

We used to have a gorgeous big lemon tree that was always a nightmare to over winter in the greenhouse due to the pot and plant size plus getting it over the sliding door step.

So I set Paul a challenge ! To build the shelter in part of the new space thats available, now the shed's gone. My challenge was not for Paul to build it ( as he is more than capable ) but it was to make it using things we had around the garden that had been used then taken apart and saved for further use.

It would be easy enough for Paul to have bought in several large shhets of exterior ply and put it all together but that would have been a waste of money and of the resources of wood etc that's laying around the place.

 First he had to clear the space which had been filled with some of those resources I'd been talking about! It was decided to keep it six foot by six foot using the fence panel on the left as one side of the structure.

Next in was two pieces of railway sleeper that was used for the side of the old pond with a five foot fence panel which was waiting to be fitted in place for the last year or more. We need more of these fence panels, so can just order an extra one when we are ready to do the next length of fencing.

 as usual his helpers are sleeping on the job!

 Next a piece of old decking was added to the top to bring height up above trellis height.
The fence panel's been screwed into the post on the left.

 Next another piece of the railway sleepers used for the old pond, is placed as a base to which is attached an old piece of fence post to form the upright.

To that post and the fence post on the left is added a piece of decking to tie the two together.

 Then another piece of decking needs to be added fron the right front to the back.

Next the door is added. This door used to be on our old gazebo which we filled in some years back and used that to over winter some of the places etc. But it was all taken apart when we removed the gazebo, so I could have my studio built in it's place. We kept this door and the panels ofpolycarbonate,
Which we are going to use on two sides of this shelter to allow light in while protecting the plants.

Looking from the corner by the greenhouse, showing two side of the shelter.

Another piece of old decking to fix the polycarbonate panels to. The door as been raised up to give more head height when entering.

One side covered with the polycarbonate and the door.

Just one more piece to cut for the side and then it's just a case of fitting a roof. So far Paul's not had to buy anything. Will he make it to the finish.... More tomorrow.