What to build for a mad 5 year old?

Owain_Moneysaver

warehouse wrote: »

Our garden has about 30 feet flat, then gently slopes down for anoth 100 feet. The bottom of the garden must be about 30 feet lower than the house. I presume if I build at the bottom of the garden I won't ever get near the bottom of the house, so height isn't an issue?

It's 3m from ground level at that point, not elsewhere on the plot. But 3m is probably rather too high for safety.

Also permanent/fixed structures like treehouses need planning permission, temporary/movable ones don't.

If you plant nettles underneath they are quite soft for landing in, but will definately encourage him not to fall off!! :mad:

ormus

nettles are for babies.
get some real bamboo spikes.

WestonDave

I put together a reasonable tower a couple of years ago from readily available garden timber - 4 pergola uprights for the corners, cross beams on the sides, and then decking floor (at about my shoulder height). Homemade steps up to that floor, with a plastic slide (bought on ebay) back down to ground level. Under the floor I built a ground level floor and then clad most of the tower with standard fence timber (leaving light gaps) apart from two doorways (one under the slide) and left half of one side open, to which I fitted a shelf (shop counter).

From that basic set up (its all we have room for!) you can add all sorts of extras - if you look for climbing frame accessories on ebay you'll find all manner of climbing handholds, rope ladders, swings etc that you can incorporate.

If you make it basically stable but then sink the "feet" into the ground a bit, then its still technically moveable but is unmoveable enough to be safe!