As the end of last year slipped into deepest winter, we took on an abandoned allotment, with dreams of a shed and rows of vegetables and sun-baked days.

In a world with terrorism on the tele and dog shit on the streets, building a little space amongst fruit and vegetables and wildflowers seemed a good idea.

We challenged ourselves to build the shed from anything that could do with a second life. We rummaged in skips, plundered street corners and searched antique shops.

We barrowed bricks in a thunderstorm, put up a bench in mid-winter drizzle and fixed up the roof in milky April sunshine.

Slowly, the shed came together. Plank by plank, nail by nail, the shed took shape.

We could have bought a shed from B&Q. But amongst the old planks and wooden-frame windows, there was character and beauty.

Building with reclaimed materials means that lines and corners aren’t perfect, but there’s a charm to creating new from old.

From cast-offs and rotting timber, we have a base to everything else we want to achieve- to nurture, to grow, to eat and drink.