The Den

Published on by Catherine

A few years ago three of my younger grandchildren discovered they could walk under the Japanese Acer at the back of the garden. It became a fun hiding spot. I thought it would make a good Den for the children to play in so we laid a path using a few stepping stones, added a base with old decking squares, and then topped it off with a lot of bark. A few logs became seating and my husband cut down an old wooden chair to make a table. I also discovered to my surprise, that this neglected corner had a few lovely ferns and hostas growing beneath the trees. Perfect.

The path into the den takes a turn to the right beyond the Acer

It wasn’t long before the children found another exit. Why use a path when you can wade through grasses and shrubs and all sorts of planting, just like an explorer! We grown-ups were sitting on the patio at the bottom of the garden one Saturday afternoon when we were greeted with the call “Look at us! We’ve discovered a secret way out!” It took only a few moments before mums and dads realised their children were trudging through one of the flower beds. They were younger then and didn’t fully understand that planted areas were off limits, but the problem was put right when Grandad built a small fence to remind them ‘NO EXIT’.

The fence, seats and the base to play in
Littlest grandson with a slate and chalk, two years old and having fun

Next, I thought I’d give the den a jungle theme as children are always interested in animals that share this planet with us, aren’t they. I bought a large vinyl jungle scene background and we stapled it onto the back fence. They loved it. But I hadn’t appreciated that the jungle image was printed with non-waterproof inks. The rain came. It rained, and it rained, and it rained. At the end of the week all that was left, stapled to the fence, was a sheet of white vinyl!

The jungle residents

Oh well. The jungle backdrop was a fun idea while it lasted!

Catherine 😊

17 thoughts on “The Den”

  3. Such a shame it wasn’t waterproof as it looks so effective! I loved having hiding places as a child, and we had a huge willow tree I played under. It made me feel invisible. 😃 I have seen adhesive vinyl sheets with various designs on here, that are designed to cover rubbish bins. I haven’t seen a jungle scene, but then I suppose the children may have grown out of that age now?

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    1. There must be a product somewhere for the outdoors, Cathy, perhaps I could add camouflage netting or fabric as another option. The younger ones still go in there during the spring & summer months. I played in a den too as a child, but in fields near our home. I remembered the scent of that den many years later when I discovered Artemisia ‘powis castle’. There must have been artemisia planted somewhere beside the area we played in.

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  5. What an imaginative and fun idea Catherine 😍 It was certainly the perfect spot for a jungle scene background and such a shame that it was so short lived. Cathy mentioned those patterned covers that you can get to cover bins which just seem to fade over time and not disappear completely. There must be something suitable out there somewhere 🤔

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