A perfect garden retreat

If you are thinking about an extension to your property and are in desperate of need of some extra space then spare a thought for the Shepherd’s Hut. The new must-have accessory for your garden. A very clever way to maximise home space, these huts can be used as saunas, offices, spare rooms or even holiday lets. They are most definitely not to be called ‘sheds’ as they are far more sophisticated than that, shaped in the traditional agricultural style with wheels underneath.

A further benefit is that being on wheels, it can be easily moved to a different area on your property. An ideal low maintenance alternative to building an extension and could even become the ultimate man cave. It is a very personal space and can be designed exactly how you want it. An added benefit is that should you ever move to another property, you can take it with you. For bespoke Shepherds Huts, visit http://www.cotswoldshepherdshuts.co.uk/

One of these huts also makes a pleasant get away and you can find companies offering breaks in a shepherd’s hut. They boast comfy beds and living room space with wood burning stoves. They are fully insulated and sit in beautiful gardens surrounded by a mixture of meadows and woodland. They are a lovely way to feel a little bit closer to nature and you can enjoy spotting owls, woodpeckers and foxes. A break in one of the huts is a lot nicer than camping but a refreshing change from the usual generic hotels.

The huts also make fantastic mobile catering units as well as being popular with writers and artists who can use the quiet space to develop their work without interruption. They can be customised to be as chic as you desire with underfloor heating, log burners, sinks, toilets and micro kitchens. Traditionally they were used by shepherds to shelter from the elements and had a stove and medicine cabinet so as to care for lambs during the lambing season.

The great thing is that due to their mobility, the huts don’t need planning permission like an extension would. Where a hut is placed in the owner’s garden then no permission is required. The only exceptions that would need checking are: if your home is a listed building, you live in a conservation area or there are restrictions in your property deeds due to the area being owned by the National Trust.