3: To Climb a Tree…

Alternative title: My Boss Told me to Climb a Tree and it Helped. We’re going for a literal tone today. Last week my boss asked me to climb a tree. Not to put in the pulleys for early structural works, or carry out a survey for a treehouse we’re building, no. I’m furloughed right now, and I know we are all sick of hearing about it, but the sheer “same-ness” of it is such a major part of the struggle. So, “climb a tree,” he said. My god what a difference it made. Middle of winter, middle of nowhere, just me, a tree, and a patch of sky. I felt like I could breathe. There are a few important things to bear in mind to ensure you’re safe when you’re climbing, but read on and we’ll go over those. Once you’re armed with our tips I implore you, get out and about, and let the kid in you loose!

One of the first things is, if you’re going to be climbing a tree, make sure you’re either with a friend (legally!) or, that you have a full battery and decent signal. What 3 Words is a good precautionary install, it’s a great idea, in partnership with the emergency services to give a grid-referenced location to within 3m. Now, that’s all the worst case out of the way. If you stick to the rest of these guidelines you should be able to get up in to the sky sanctuary without too much risk.

The big one to remember is, throughout your climb, “keep three on the tree”. All that means is three strong points of contact. So, when you’re reaching up with one hand, the other and both your feet keep you anchored. Be mindful of where you place your grip and your feet, too. Make sure the tree you choose to climb is healthy and keep an eye out for dead branches. Take a moment to stress test each new anchor point before you make it one of your three and move on up. Deciduous trees are generally sturdier, elm, ash, chestnut, oak, even apple. Coniferous trees, those that produce cones, such as pines, firs, spruce and cedar, are best avoided as they tend to be slender in the branches, can be brittle, and the sap is a pain to get out of hair!

Now, I’ve been fairly candid about what a relief my climb was this week. But of course, there are other benefits to physical fitness, and nurturing your inner child! I think at the minute though, we all need a few ways of separating the days. What’s more, I think these kinds of adventures are one of the best ways to appreciate the natural beauty of the British countryside as spring starts to show its first signs. So, set out for a good long walk and keep your eyes peeled for a good tree. Something with a bit of girth, some good sturdy branches, and a few low enough to get you started. You also want to see if there is a reasonable amount of space between the branches. Not too crowded and not so far apart you’ll get stuck. And for that matter, it’s often best to climb down by taking the route that got you up in reverse.

When you’re in the tree, take a pause and breathe. As you rest before climbing down, look around for what birds might be nesting, see if you can spot a deer trail, or watch out for rabbit, pheasant and hare feasting on the farmer’s field. Honestly, if any of you working from home, furloughed or worse are feeling like me, climb a tree. I think the strangest thing in the circumstances is that time has taken on a new shape. Whilst we might expect to feel like we have more of it, the lockdown warps the days into an erratic static blur. The deciduous hour I spent daydreaming beneath the canopy, squared the rest of my day with a sense of shape I’d not felt since I was on site before Christmas. It might seem silly, but I actually felt a sense of achievement resting in the bows of a big old oak – something I’d been lacking since I put the last cedar shingle in.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that a treehouse can bring the peace of the treetops within easier reach. We have some exciting big builds coming up, and I’m just starting on plans for a pair of impressive treetop retreats. One is complete with kitchen and bathroom, but best of all is its open deck to endless inspiration. The other is a playground for the imagination. Complete with zipwires and cargo nets, the children are going to have years of adventures here before the owners convert this to an epic Airbnb and family guesthouse.

I thought I’d leave you with the final stanza of a poem I read whilst I was perched under the sky. You can find the full version here, by Alison Lurie. Here’s to spring and new life.

Let sun recover soured loves,

Let the new spring now spread long leaves;

And grant man may, if man forgives,

Grow rooted to the place he lives.

All the best everyone.