I need some interesting ideas about gardens

[Katymac]

I may be able to access some funding for outdoor learning

But I have to buy stuff, not things I can make stuff with or people to do stuff just things I can buy from high street shops and no plants - which makes things quite difficult.

I have also posted on the childminding bit; but some of my ideas are creating a willow 'wigwam' & tunnel, some sort of sand & water play and then I sort of run out. I have plenty of ideas with plants - sensory space, veggie space, stepping stones, dens etc.

But please can I have some fab MN ideas about how I can develop my garden to make it a fun and exciting place for children to be in

[LadyBiscuit]

Sorry am slightly confused as to what you want - you want ideas of stuff you can buy only, not particular plants or stuff you can make yourself?

What ages are the children?

[TrowelAndError]

I'm too. Are you a childminder? Are we talking about toys for the garden?

[Katymac]

The children are from birth to about 12 (sometimes a bit older) but primarily for children under 5.

I can't buy wood & nails, or pay for a builder, or a water feature (unless it's self-contained)or buy plants.

I can buy toys (but I think that's a little short-sighted), mats, equipment, tyres (maybe?)

[Katymac]

Yes, I childmind but on a larger scale - I can have 12 under 5's

We already have lots of climbing frames & slides & wendy houses & wheely toys

I really like eco things or natural ideas

[LadyBiscuit]

A shed (or a couple of them in different sizes) and some Little Tikes stuff would probably be the best use of cash. Little Tikes stuff lasts forever - we are using the stuff I got for my sister's kids about 7 years ago!

[LadyBiscuit]

Oh sorry, cross posted. Then you could get some different kinds of surfaces maybe? A path made of stones, then shingle, then wood, then a different kind of stone? There were some really cool swings I saw once somewhere that were made out of recycled tyres. And how about little sets of tables and chairs made out of logs so more 'rustic' in style. I don't know how much space you have but if you can put up planting screens between different areas and have the paths running from one area to the next then that would be quite fun and then you could have hidden corners with surprises in them

[Uriel]

Wind spinners/dancers.
Rain chain.
Hedgehog house.
Bird box with camera?

[TrowelAndError]

It might not make a big dent in your budget, but do you have a Butterfly house?

[Katymac]

Butterfly house is definitely on my list

What is a rain chain?

The garden is about 50 ft wide and nearly 70 ft long - we have an idea for a willow tunnel & structure; we have some logs which we will smooth and use as benches.

[Katymac]

Do cats hurt hedgehogs? If not a hedgehog house is great but we don't do bird things as the cats eat them

I'd like a really nice sand/water table but they all seem very plastic/cheap

[Uriel]

Rain chain
Supposed to make a nice noise.

Wooden toadstools as seats?

[Uriel]

My cats are rightly cautious of hedgehogs.

[Katymac]

Wooden toadstools - great.......do you know a source?

[LadyBiscuit]

If you have a bird table in the centre (ie massively exposed) then they are generally pretty safe from cats because the cats can't sneak up on them. You could also make a really cool squirrel assault course - squirrels will do all sorts to get to food and it would be really fun to watch them do it.

How about a sunken room? That would be brilliant!

Solar lighting would also be good, especially when it starts getting dark earlier

[LadyBiscuit]

This is the kind of thing I was thinking of

[CaptainNancy]

Chickens and ducks- a school near us has them in their outdoor classroom.

[Katymac]

I love this could I put it high in my tree?

I need to move my compost bins then I have a great under tree area in the corner that I need to develop

[Uriel]

I've usually seen them in garden centres.

This site has them. Scroll down to bottom.
Also has a storytelling chair.

[LadyBiscuit]

I found this too. Can you tell I'm supposed to be doing something else (ie ironing/putting laundry on/emptying dishwasher?)

[Katymac]

Wow the mushrooms are gorgeous (but a bit pricey - I'll have to juggle)

We have chickens.........& lovely blue eggs
We grow apricots, grapes, plums, (we have a peach tree that doesn't fruit) a large(ish) vegetable bed

[Katymac]

I can make one of these fairly easily without my grant

[Uriel]

A small 'hill' the kids could roll down/jump from?
A grass maze?

[Katymac]

I like this

[Katymac]

Is this mean??

[Katymac]

Some good ideas - any more?