How to Design a Stylish Garden Kids Will Love Too
Create a garden for children without creating a children’s garden.
For many people their childhood garden is a place full of fond memories of seemingly endless summer days and imaginative play, often involving
Over the years, however, the play equipment whether it’s a bulky climbing frame or the dreaded trampoline.
As a garden designer, it is often tricky to know how to incorporate children’s equipment into the garden, but here are a few ideas of how you can make a space switched up for the younger members of the family to enjoy without compromising the aesthetic.
Play Equipment
Much affordable modern garden play equipment can be quite unattractive to adult eyes, relying heavily on moulded plastic and metal in loud primary colours. More elegant timber options often have a price tag to match. No matter how beautiful your garden, as soon as you place a vivid yellow slide in the middle of the lawn, it will become the focus of the space. Unless it is a design feature, keep play equipment in the background whenever possible. Look at ways to hide a slide within a planting bed, or screen off a dedicated play area. In smaller spaces a sandpit on wheels that can be tucked away is a simple solution.
Consider a sandpit on wheels that can be hidden when not in use.
Creating A Pergola
Every child loves a den, whether it is a tent, a sheet over a washing line or hiding under a table. Think about how you might be able to utilise any trees are in the garden to create things that can go up and come down quite easily. Too often I find that garden playhouses become outgrown very quickly or a no-go zone because of spiders! Often in small spaces, we create a timber pergola, which can be used to Chuck things over, or hang things on on an ad hoc basis to create a simple climbing frame, which can then be taken down when playtime is over.
Use a pergola that can have monkey bars as well as giving architectural support to a climber.
Water For Fun
Typically, we think that we can’t include water feature in the garden with children present. However, water features have moved on a lot and I no longer just ponds. Think about creating a water feature that they can splash in, or do some typing and pouring, or even low key Poohsticks! There are many safe water features on the market, which can be enjoyed by children and adults.
Think about incorporating water into the garden, that can be fun for little ones without danger
Grow Your Own
Don’t be frightened to let your kids actually do some gardening. The joy of field to fork, no matter how small scale can really wet the appetite for gardening, as well as eating healthily. Don’t worry if the idea of a large allotment gardens terrifies you. Start small. A simple herb garden can bring a lot of joy as well as year-round interest if you include evergreen herbs such as rosemary, sage, and a bay tree.
