| When starting a garden, new plants need consist | | | | indeed to a small child. A flight of steps to the top |
| entirely of trees and shrubs of an informal nature: | | | | where he can look out is ideal, and provides a |
| silver birch rather than magnolia, untrained | | | | definite right of way so that the rest of the hill |
| pyracantha, cotoneaster, mountain ash and other | | | | does not become trodden down. I did this on my |
| semi-wild trees with perhaps blossoming kinds for | | | | own peat hill for my son when he was small. Now |
| spring. These should be underplanted with dwarf | | | | I find the steps extremely useful for weeding and |
| shrubs such as azaleas and with little glades of | | | | otherwise tending my plants. |
| ground cover plants, bulb flowers and tiny | | | | A large tree can have a lookout platform built a |
| cyclamen. The path should meander, never cut | | | | few feet from the ground - it does not have to |
| through the rather dense woodland. It could be | | | | be high. A safe flight of steps needs to lead up to |
| made of stepping stones, unevenly shaped slabs | | | | it. This should have at least one firm hand rail. The |
| or circular concrete blocks. | | | | platform could serve a double purpose. Hooks |
| Sometimes when you are not starting a garden, | | | | fastened to the edges could be used to assemble |
| but your already established garden requires | | | | a "tent" from an old sheet, the platform becoming |
| changes to be made for reasons of pure utility. | | | | the roof. This is a great idea in a garden for |
| For example, a family with young children may | | | | children. |
| move into a house with an entirely unsuitable | | | | Wendy houses can be merged attractively into |
| garden, or an elderly couple may require | | | | the garden and can be made even more realistic |
| something more labour-saving. In planning these | | | | if they have their own little hedge or screen. |
| "purposeful" gardens, you should first determine | | | | Avoid thorny shrubs like roses, though you can |
| the essentials, then once the features are chosen | | | | plant the lovely thornless rose Zephirine Drouhin, |
| they may be fitted into the overall scheme. | | | | perfect for such a hedge and with beautiful |
| The following gardening ideas are great when you | | | | blooms. Avoid berried shrubs in case the children |
| are starting a garden and can incorporate | | | | are tempted to use them for "cooking" and never |
| gardening ideas and fun into the garden for | | | | plant a laburnum tree in the children's area, for the |
| children: | | | | little pea-like pods of seeds are very poisonous |
| For young children there should be play features | | | | indeed. |
| such as a sandpit, paddling pool, climbing rack, | | | | A play place for very small children or toddlers |
| swing or Wendy house and, where possible, these | | | | needs to be in sight of the house. If a sand pit is |
| should be grouped in a suitable area so that lawns | | | | to be made it should be protected in some way |
| are not battered by the thunder of tiny feet or | | | | from the prevailing wind to prevent the sand |
| herbaceous borders smashed and broken by | | | | being blown about too much. Not often seen in |
| flying balls. Children in the family must certainly be | | | | gardens, but in use at the end of many country |
| catered for. They should feel that the garden | | | | drives which lead onto a busy road, is a large |
| belongs to them and is not merely a show place | | | | mirror. By using this you could tuck the play area |
| into which they are not allowed to trespass. On | | | | out of the way of the main garden yet clearly |
| the other hand, they must learn to respect the | | | | visible in the mirror from the kitchen window. |
| plants you buy and tend. | | | | Wigwams and tents are not so pretty in small |
| Places most liked by children are the hidden areas | | | | gardens and tend to become blown down on |
| - or supposedly hidden - where they can play | | | | windy days, but you can plan an Indian teepee by |
| "hide" games: the land that runs beside the hedge, | | | | using climbing plants and some strong posts. A |
| the glen behind the border made shady and | | | | permanent climbing plant like clematis or |
| hidden from grown-up eyes, the areas under and | | | | polygonum will cover the posts all the year round, |
| behind trees, even the stout limbs of large trees. | | | | but temporary effects can be obtained by using |
| Play areas of mystery can be made so simply, | | | | runner beans or gourds for the summer months |
| merely by making a footway that enables you to | | | | only. |
| walk (or run) round the whole perimeter of the | | | | Give the children a scribbling wall on the patio |
| garden. If the path winds, is hidden, turns | | | | where they will play quite absorbed for hours. No |
| occasionally into stepping stones or leads through | | | | need to paint this black - a matt green will do |
| a gate or over a tiny but safe bridge, so much | | | | just as well. When they have passed the scribbling |
| the better. | | | | stage, targets for archery can be painted or hung |
| A little piece of rising land can seem very high | | | | on it. |