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Treehouse Outdoor Classroom

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treehouses for schools

Treehouse round a tree connecting to elevated treehouse

We have just completed a unique treehouse outdoor classroom for Marnel Infant School near Basingstoke. The school originally approached us looking for an outdoor classroom which they could use for their outdoor learning sessions. It had to be big enough to cater for a class of 30 and it had to be totally enclosed so that they could use it all year round. And it had to be interesting in order to fully engage the children!

The original discussions started off with us supplying one of our standard octagonal cedar clad outdoor classrooms which we were going to enclose with French doors and window upper panels and some additional eco options but it soon became obvious that the school had more adventurous plans.

By the main school entrance, there is an area which was suitable for what the school wanted to build – namely an enclosed outdoor classroom which is built around an existing tree in the middle which is then linked by a 10m long elevated walkway to a 5m treehouse elevated off the ground on stilts. This is also totally enclosed on all sides and has French doors to the front elevation so can easily be used all year round.

We have also supplied an additional “mud kitchen” for their forest schools activities which has opening and closing louvre panels on one side (which allows the building to easily adapt to the weather), barn doors to the front elevation and windows on the back to make use of the natural daylight and setting. Like the treehouse outdoor classroom, it is also manufactured out of premium grade cedar with a cedar shingle tile roof.

The school are already reporting that both the treehouse outdoor classroom and the mud kitchen are a great success with the children who love the fact that they can enjoy their outdoor learning in such a unique and special setting.

For further information, please contact the Hideout House Company on 01865 858982, email info@hideouthouse.com

Rectangular outdoor classroom with polycarbonate windows and louvre panels

Treehouse outdoor classrooms for forest schools

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At the Hideout House Company, we always enjoy a healthy amount of enquiries from schools who are looking for something a bit different to have either in their playground or more usually in their forest school area. The enquiry is also typically for some sort of a shelter or outdoor classroom where the children can congregate or be taught lessons whilst in an outside environment.

Our product range does already encompass a wide variety of buildings and structures for this type of application but treehouses for schools seem to always add a bit of extra interest. I think it is because it is that bit more exciting than something which is floor mounted. Imaginations can work overtime.

We have therefore designed an octagonal treehouse outdoor classroom which is basically raised up on elevated stilts. You can have the option of having it fully enclosed and to add that extra bit of mysticism, the windows are in a Gothic, arched style. Or alternatively you could have it open sided like a gazebo with lower level solid infill bevel panels. The roof is an attractive cedar shingle tile roof and it is also possible to have an atrium style roof in order to allow in lots of natural daylight from above.

Underneath it, a rotating tyre swing will hang from the underside of the unit as well an easy access rope ladder leading up to a secret trap door. In forest schools, fire pits are used quite a lot so if a school was wanting to provide for some heating in the treehouse, it is possible to have a wood-burning stove with flue. Children can therefore gather firewood from the wood or forest and then burn it in the stove for extra heat.

The timber used for the external cladding is a wany-edged larch which gives the treehouse the rustic, cabin style look to it. There are three sizes available – namely 3m, 4m or 5m and there is an option too to have internal benching.

For further information, please contact the Hideout House Company on 01865 858982 or email info@hideouthouse.com

www.hideouthouse.com