Garden Designs all Children will Love
All homes can benefit immensely from a garden, but for a family, it is worth its weight in gold. Rather than hopping about on the furniture or sitting goggle-eyed in front of the TV, having a garden that children want to go out and play in is immensely rewarding – for them as well as for the parents. Whether you invest in a swing set and a trampoline or create a natural haven of insects and plants, your children will love the opportunity to let off steam in a safe environment that’s all their own; even better, all the exercise and fresh air will be good for them.
Before rushing out to buy that jungle gym, however, it’s important to consider how much space there actually is in the garden and plan how it should look once all the new purchases are in place. Any garden design needs to be safe as well as fun, so fencing should be the first priority, whether it is to prevent younger children from running out into the road or to cordon off a pond or water feature.
Playground equipment can be ordered, often with free delivery, from approved suppliers. For added peace of mind, it’s always advisable to bring in a professional to install it. Similarly, trampolines do not always come with safety nets included, but should never be used without them. If the idea of a high trampoline seems daunting, consider installing a recessed version that is designed to sit in the ground.
Not everyone has the space for a full-scale trampoline or climbing frame, but that doesn’t mean a garden has to be boring for children or parents. Even the smallest city garden can be livened up with a small sand box or a paved area complete with a compact playhouse or tiles for chalking. Remember, plants and flowers add much needed colour and can thrive, even in a window box.
People who prefer a wilderness garden to a patio should draw up an area for a cool hideaway. Many gardens have at least one tree that’s great for climbing and building the kids a tree house among its branches will create a den that will be loved and visited for years to come.
A vegetable patch or a fruit tree is a practical addition to any garden; both encourage kids to care for living things and to learn, first-hand, about nature. Apple trees grow quickly and can tolerate fairly tough climates and kids will love eating fruit grown in their own back garden. Likewise, even a modest-sized vegetable patch can generate a rich array of produce, from potatoes and carrots to tomatoes and beans.
For those blessed with a larger garden, there is really no limit to what can be done to transform a patch of lawn into a magical, natural play space. Asking children for ideas should bring forth a flood of imaginative, creative possibilities; from artistic, natural garden furniture (an old tree stump doubles up as both fairy retreat and a reading nook), to a man-made hillock, perfect for sledging down in the winter.
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