A FAMILY’S labour of love, which has kick-started a yoga class business, has been nominated for a national award.

The Shed of the Year 2021 competition has seen a Gosfield family’s creation shortlisted for an award.

Geraint Nicholas and wife, Melissa, launched a project to build a yoga cabin in March 2020.

Melissa is a yoga instructor and her husband promised to build her her very own studio in their back garden.

More than a year later, and with £12,000 spent, Melissa is now looking forward to opening the cabin to teach her yoga and pilates classes.

Melissa said: “By May 2020, the project was well under way, with plans drawn up, materials sourced and site prepped for the build.

“Although lockdown 2020 had its issues, we had time and weather to make a great start.

“We borrowed equipment from neighbours in the village to dig out the old patio, and get started on the base.

“Some materials were difficult to get hold of as the country was closed apart from supermarkets, but here and there we found what we needed.

“Once the base floor was down it was time to get the frame was up.

“My brother-in-law Graham came and helped with the roof rafters and by the end we had a large shed.”

Despite the project being halted by the tragic death of her father, Melissa and Geraint’s hard work saw the cabin kitted out with underfloor heating, music systems and mobile controlled smart lighting

Melissa added: “May continued into summer months of burning beams, comparing insulation, and choosing colours when tragedy struck - my wonderful dad died quite suddenly of cancer on August 9, and time stood still.

“Taking time to grieve and support my mum and make funeral arrangements paused any progress on the build.

“My amazing and supportive husband took care of me and our son Toby, five. The Yoga Cabin was in limbo.

“In October we were back on the project hoping to open in mid-November so installing insulation, fire wrap and painting walls was every evening and weekend.”

Through lockdown, Melissa has been doing her classes online, but she now hopes to welcome people to her new cabin.