Fast growing tree for climbing

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Fast growing tree for climbing

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Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 18 9:10 pm Post subject: Fast growing tree for climbing

While planning on designing something fun in terms of a climbing frame type affair, I asked Arthur what things he would like on it, thinking slide, monkey bars, climbing wall...

Such an awesome kid, he replied he'd like it to be a tree. Just a tree. Like the one outside (old apple trees).

The new place has no old trees, they're all very young.

What's the quickest growing that he'd be able to climb, do you think? We had a very vigorous twisted Willow in the old house, which used to grow like crazy.

I'm thinking anything very substantial takes years to get to climbing height, by which time he probably won't be at interested.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 18 9:13 pm Post subject:
He might be happy with something made like https://dream-weavers.co.za/junglegymdesigns.html

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 18 12:18 am Post subject:
Would a chunk of old tree suffice? A big trunk or stump or something? J has an apple tree, which is ‘her’ tree, but she spends more time in the huge laurel and scrambling over the downed hoarse chestnut.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16006

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 18 6:53 am Post subject:

If you could get part of a large tree trunk and lay it down, it would make a good place to climb, prop for a den or anything else he wanted. At one end have the sort of climbing frame you showed in your link. You might need someone with a forwarder who is in forestry to provide the tree trunk and put it in the right place. Alternatively, making one of those things in the link with some other loose branchwood to add for making dens, balancing bars or anything else he fancied at the time might do the trick. I can't think of any tree that would grow within just 2-3 years to climbing size.

Edited; looks as if your little one is enjoying herself there WW.

Last edited by Mistress Rose on Sat Apr 07, 18 6:54 am; edited 1 time in total

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 18 6:53 am Post subject: Re: Fast growing tree for climbing

Fee wrote:

I'm thinking anything very substantial takes years to get to climbing height, by which time he probably won't be at interested.

yep, it will. something made is what you need

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6614
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 18 1:48 pm Post subject:
Even a hybrid poplar, which can grow quite fast, won't be climbable for 5 years at the earliest.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 18 4:42 pm Post subject:

big poplars are a bit like ice climbling

grabbing armfuls is safe enough but a handful might join one in freefall.

i like the tree on a lorry idea if you can get a huge one.

for a proper challenge a decent size tree base planted upside down seahenge style would be a stunning play tree ( perhaps wait a few years to mention sky burial traditions

)
a challenging trunk, interesting root handholds, adaptive base for ladders ,swings,treehouses, hammocks etc etc etc .

the more i think about the more i like it. it might not come with a safety certificate but nor do right way up trees .

something durable might be good, oak ( dur ), elm ,chestnut etc etc are good types to start looking for. avoid the rotters.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 18 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Fast growing tree for climbing

Fee wrote:

What's the quickest growing that he'd be able to climb, do you think? We had a very vigorous twisted Willow in the old house, which used to grow like crazy.

I've had cherry grow like a rocket. If you remind me next time I'm doen the allotment I'll try and count the rings.
Plant a few and encourage him to nurture them. Won't hurt...

Quote:

I'm thinking anything very substantial takes years to get to climbing height, by which time he probably won't be at interested.

Perhaps, but I still climb tress...

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16006

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 18 7:19 am Post subject:
Cherry is fast growing, but it won't be ready for climbing for a good few years and isn't that stable or good for climbing either. A wild cherry is a good addition to a garden through, and the fruit is edible if you can get it before the birds.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 18 3:14 pm Post subject:
If you made a climbing frame, perhaps you could grow climbers over it to give it a more lifelike appearance. Clematis (native or cultivated) would be good, or honeysuckle. Bramble or rose if you wanted to make the climbing tougher! Henry

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 18 4:03 pm Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

Cherry is fast growing, but it won't be ready for climbing for a good few years and isn't that stable or good for climbing either.

If you leave it to its own devices it will likely make a pole with twigs sticking out: not a great climb by any chalk, but if you mess with it appropriately then a good climbing tree should be achievable.

Quote:

A wild cherry is a good addition to a garden through, and the fruit is edible if you can get it before the birds.

If you want, you can graft cultivated scions onto the wild branches.

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