It began in a Surrey back‑garden when a 12‑year‑old girl handed her father £500, urging him to build something extraordinary.
Swanborough responded, carving a two‑storey wooden structure that mimicked a mushroom: a narrow stem, a vaulted cap, a trapdoor, stained‑glass windows and a glass floor that revealed a silver‑lined stream below.
The shed entered the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2017, a competition that attracted 2,963 contestants and 26,571 public votes.
Judges praised the blend of whimsy and craftsmanship, noting that the mushroom’s hidden treat shelf, glass roof and bespoke balcony set it apart from entries ranging from a hedgehog sanctuary to a 1940s police station.
The prize of £1,000, a plaque and a crown for the shed was accepted amid cheers from the family, who said the project had turned a simple wish into a lasting memory.
The winner was announced by George Clarke on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, bringing national attention and cementing the shed’s place in the UK’s design folklore.