No, that is not a beige Tardis. It is a tree hut; albeit a grounded one; built by my son and his son. A swing has been constructed alongside.
It has a ramshackle, somewhat lop-sided, quaint and quirky charm.
Made from left-over wood and end bits, it is a hammered work of patchwork art.
Tucked away in a ‘secret location’, it invites children to come and imagine …
Notices written in pencil give it a name … and instructions to play …
This is my favourite sign. ‘Sport Leaf’ it states – two nouns that for an eight year old, depicts this area’s character.
It is for him and his cousins, a place to claim – to escape to, hide away in, to be with nature, hear the birds (especially the noisy tui). And not an electronic device in sight.
And it is place that promises more – a hefty branch for even more climbing, for constructing adjoining fresh-air spaces. For expansion. A watch-this-space space.
The company of trees. Something both children and adults can benefit from.
11th Letter In 