11 different ways to play with trees

Trees are everywhere, wherever you are, and they’re great to play with. That said they’re definitely not all equal in the play stakes. Some are much more fun. The best is probably one you can do all these different things in and with. Can you find one?

1. Climb it

The biggest case of ‘you have to find the right tree’. That said I’ve seen kids up trees and had no idea how they got there!

Being risk averse my favourite thing is to find a tree you can comfortably sit in and watch the world go by. B’s best is one you can walk along and in, without having to go high.

Challenge kids by putting something round a high branch and seeing if they can reach it and get it down.

2. Play hide and seek

Hide something in the tree and see if the kids can find it. Then get them to hide it. Gemstones are good but you can do it with anything you’ve got to hand.

It’s brilliant doing this with a big old tree trunk with lots of knot and holes in it.

3. Make a pulley system

It’s really easy to rig up some sort of pulley system. All you need is a bit of rope or string and a bucket or basket.

If you can rig it up on a climbing tree the kids can climb up to the top, put stuff in the basket and then pull it down. Or alternatively put stuff in at the bottom to deliver to the top.

4. Look for funghi or lichen

Is there anything growing on the tree that doesn’t belong to it? Can you find any lichen? Or moss? Or funghi?

Can you find a twig and scratch it? Do you think it might be poisonous? What makes it grow there? Does the tree like it?

5. Swing on the branches like ringing a bell

Big strong branches that reach down towards the ground are great for swinging on. How high can you reach? How low will it go?

Make sure you get a branch that can take your weight. Can you climb onto it? Or bounce it up and down?

6. Be a nature detective

Can you work out what sort of tree it is? Look on the ground to see what it’s dropped. If it has leaves do they help? Can you find a cone or a fruit that will give you a clue?

7. Find a secret place inside

Conifers in particular are brilliant at providing secret hiding places inside them. Can you find your way in? Could you make it into a camp? Where would you sleep? How would you make it homely?

8. Build a den

If you can’t find a den inside a tree why not build one up against it. Country parks in particular are great at having den making sticks hanging around.

If you can’t find big sticks why not make a teeny den for a woodland creature or a fairy to enjoy instead?

9. Make a swing

It’s surprisingly easy to tie rope on a stick and attach it to a tree, and lots of fun. B found this one uncomfortable to sit on but you could swing it and twist it and stand on it. Can you make it into an invention?