A few short weeks ago I was looking out at a rain-drenched hodge-podge. Things have changed a tad.

It has been weeks in the making and there’s still some landscaping work to do on the patio, but the frame is finally ready to use. The woodchips are laid to a depth of about 20cm providing plenty of impact reduction. The ninja net was also delivered last week so that is installed and providing a great deal of entertainment for Evie. Getting up there is another matter when you’re a grown up.

Building the frame was by far the easiest part. The groundwork was the slog, so anyone building this sort of thing on grass would have a much easier time. It does utilise the space better than the vast expanse of concrete patio we were faced with before.

Growplay make loads of accessories, and we already have some on backorder. They are releasing a cubby house for the top of the frame later this year which will be an exciting addition. This was how the whole thing started. I was looking for a replacement for the “tree house” the previous owner had built which was no longer safe. I looked at a few wooden options, and ones with swings and additional accessories, but the reviews were mixed and Facebook marketplace was littered with sad looking examples that hadn’t stood the test of time. In rolls this behemoth climbing frame that could suddenly serve a dual purpose of fun for kids and adults and I was sold.

The frame is really solid, supports up to 950 kg weight, and the whole thing can be disassembled and moved if we want to bring it to the next house. If you want me, I’ll be outside….