Garden Equipment For Children

What garden equipment attracts children of the current generation?

• The swing was the most popular piece of equipment until recently when trampolines became more popular.

• Tree houses and dens made from existing resources rather than purchased have enduring charm and fit into the rest of the garden without jarring too much. If you can accomodate bird and insect homes why not have an area for the kids.

• If young footballers keep missing the net you can be sure the ball will hit a precious plant. Unless that is, you have the space for a large lawn with a hard surface surround. More damage is done recovering balls fro herbaceous borders so plant tough items like geraniums, hemerocallis, bay and box.
• Sand pits are great for the very young. Buy fine sand not the yellow staining sort of builders sand.
• With a suitable wall you can paint wickets or goal posts and even mount a hoop for netball.

Water for Children

• Safety is important for younger children. Do not leave them alone near water.
• A rill can be fun. A shallow stream or channel of running water fed from a sump.
• If you have a pond you can fit a black metal mesh just under the water surface and it will be virtually invisible.
• What about a board walk over a marshy area. Not as much fun perhaps as a paddling pool that needs to be emptied when the adults are not around.

Tree and Play Houses

• If you do not have a large sturdy tree you can build one on posts hidden by the branches of a smaller tree.
• Keep kids interested by adding to a tree house with ropes, hammocks, walkways or other features.
• If you are handy you could mount a tree or play house above a garden shed
• You can buy a large range of tree houses see amazon

Trampolines from Amazon
Swings from Amazon

Trampoline photo from Darkjoe on flickr using creative commons license