The Adventure Garden

Some of you know I've been building an adventure themed part of my garden, for the benefit of my sons, nephews etc. Some of you have asked more than once for pics.

Well, here goes. It doesn't look quite so 'epic' in the photos, but it is still in its infancy. Wait til you see it next year, but here goes with what's there so far.

A sort of overview of the centrepiece. The willow den, with 'secret' exit to rear leading to willow tunnel, then wobbly bridge, onto the fort thingy. You can't really see the fort thingy, except for the black and white chequered slide coming down off it. The slide was a blunder. Far too steep, but in fact it works well, the kids love it. They use it as a sort of jumping off thing rather than a slide, ie they sort of half slide half jump.



A better view into the main entrance of the willow house. I don't like the doorway. In winter I'm going to do something with it. Not sure what yet, but its ok for now. You can see at the back an smaller arched doorway leading into the 'secret' tunnel. There's a good experiment going on there and the results have impressed me. That arch is a single willow cutting. I bent it into an arch and then forced BOTH ends into the ground. I expect the downward tilting half would die because some trees need a certain orientation to grow, or so I've read, but it didn't. The whole thing is growing fine.

A side shot showing the willow den, and the secret tunnel. The tunnel, as you can see, is a bit sparse to say the least. It is better when you see it for real but it is sparse. We did that out of spare bits left over from the main den, and like many things in my garden, it was a 'prototype' to see how it looked/worked. My son and his mates love it, so in winter that will be getting more sticks in. Also note the red berries. That's a thornless variety of blackberry which I've deliberately incorporated into the den. I didn't want it to look like a willow structure, but like a wild formation, so more stuff will be incorporated.

There's the mound, which is higher on the far side on account of the section of garden with the swing in it is sunken. It doesn't really show in the photos, but the secret tunnel has a side exit. The mound provides some cover from anyone standing on the platform thingy that has a Nerf gun aimed at you. We also see a better shot of the platform/fort thingy. That needs soem serious rework. Its structurally sound but the safety rails were positioned based on the height of my son last year. Now if he leans on it I'm paranoid he's going to topple right over. I might incorporate some of that busted fishing net you see hanging off the busted metal arch. Oh yes, as an aside, that metal arch was destroyed once and I had to botch repair it. I cut down an overhanging branch from next door's tree. It fell the wrong way, I had to run faster than I've ran for years, and the arch was squashed flat

In the pic we can also see a piece of slide that my dad gave us (the remains of kit from when my step niece was little). That will somehow end up in the grand scheme. Shame its pink. There's also an old tyre that we 'anti-fly-tipped' (ie someone had fly tipped it down the dunes, I brought it home). That will get used somewhere too.



The mound again. This is where I'm scattering various wildflower/weed seeds. Once it greens up it will make quite a divider I think. We can also see the end of the wobbly bridge.



More to follow.....

 

The wobbly bridge. I can't get rid of that for sale board. Its from when we bought the place. My son thinks it can be used for something, but I can't think what.



More wobbly bridge. See those two tyres? They're filled with horrible clay subsoil, which I thought was as good a way as any to help ensure they stay put. I turned the hose on it to make it all sloppy and stood on it to get rid of air pockets. I actually sunk and after much merriment, realised I was genuinely stuck. Each time I wriggled my legs I sunk further in, and I found I didn't have enough upper body strength to haul myself out. At one point I actually felt my knees detaching when I pulled Try explaining to a four year old lad who is giggling hysterically that you're not joking and you do actually need him to go into the house, and ask mammy to bring daddy's spade over



The view from the top of the fort/platform thingy, looking down past the ramp, onto the wobbly bridge, into the secret willow tunnel.



So there's the bulk of where we're at with it so far. Its still in its infancy, but its coming together and at least I know where its going now. This time next year it will be brill.

 

brilliant clue, how incredibly creative of you! the child in me is itching to come over & have a play

 

Coming on a treat, clue

Red berries duly noted and applauded: nothing beats sitting in a willow hide-away and having a nutritious snack to hand

The "Sale" sign? Let James loose with some paints on it to hang from the fort.
Or, paint it yourself and turn it into a sign more in keeping with the theme: "Fort Wobbly Bridge?" ; Skull and crossbones? ; "Adventure Garden"? ; "Enter at own risk"? (I'm sure you could come up with something more appropriate )

 

Henry would LOVE that clue, dyewannhim for a week or 2, PLEASE.........?

 

Looks great. No wonder the kids are coming to you to play.

 

It's coming on well Clueless. I know there's paint available for upvc, doors guttering etc. Maybe you could use it on the pink slide.