A not very large garden but really fun for kids!

[Flowertop]

Ok I need some good ideas. I have a garden which is not tiny but not that large. Sorry for being vague but it is too wet to go outside and measure - you will understand! A lot of my DS's friends have acres of land and hold great interest to my two when they visit - they are nearly 8 and nearly 10. I want to be able to provide a garden which will be fun for them and having trouble with how I can do this. Have any of you got smallish gardens but great ideas for entertaining the kids that will be a big hit when their mates come round. All ideas will be really appreciated.
Thanks

[PussinJimmyChoos]

A trampoline! My friends have got a supertramp one and its fab!! Pricey but worth it and its a hit with the kids with the added bonus that it knackers them out

[iheartdusty]

this book has good ideas

[sophy]

Have you got a tree with a strong branch which you can suspend a knotted rope from?

It is the best garden toy we ever had -- the kids stand on a low wall, and jump off swinging from the rope Tarzan style. They aboslutely love it.

Would be wary of having a trampoline as it takes up so much space. My 2 got bored of our trampoline quite quickly, although they do play on it when their friends come round.

[boogeek]

There's a Bunny Guinness book about designing gardens for families, too, which is excellent. A bit aspirational but in a good way.

[sophy]

We also have a full size Cath Kidston teepee tent which makes a good den, but has the advantage of being able to be put away when you need the space. It's really easy to put up and take down.

[newgirl]

im interested in this too so im bumping

we dont have a tree to hang a swing or rope off, and we have a wigwam, and a small slide and seesaw

can anyone recommend a small but interesting climbing frame?

im going to look for the books in the library too

[missingtheaction]

ime kids love jungles and dens - not an easy thing to provide in a hurry but a willow maze/den is pretty quick to get going (i think there is know-how in Bunny Guinness Family Gardens?) and an area planted up with big rhubarby perennials (Gunnera if you can keep it wet enough) are good hiding places. winding paths through big shrubs, that kind of thing. if you have an overgrown jungle don't clear it

a small pond

if you have a wendy house or den then small kids need them close to the house, bigger ones may decamp to the end of the garden but it has to be very interesting (ideally dangerious from their pov) to keep them out there

you know if you have a really good children's garden if you keep the opening times of the nearest hospital minor injuries unit stuck to the fridge

[Anna8888]

A tree house. On several floors.

[LadyOfWaffle]

A wendy house and a 'den' behind. If you set the wendy house at an angle in the corner it leaves a triangle for a den. I didn't have swings/trampolines/sandpits when younger but played for hours in the wendy house and den etc. The den was like my own secret garden

[Monkeytrousers]

I'll get an architect

[Flowertop]

Thanks all. But can you have a tree house without a big strong tree. We do have a lovely willow tree but not sure good enough for a tree house. I really don't want trampoline as so many people have said the kids hardly use after a while. Anyway know any good tree house providers.
thanks
XX

[nkf]

At about what age do children lose interest in Wendy Houses?