Noah’s Ark Nursery has recently moved to a fabulous new premised, with a forest on our doorstep.  The ground area has still to be cleared of rubbish, litter, old tyres, petrol cans and general mess! But children will be children and they were so desperate to go on an adventure eager to climb and enjoy the freedom of an ever changing forest garden we just had to go. So on a quiet Friday afternoon our staff team did a risk assessment of the area, had a little tidy around and together we took a walk on the wild side. 
Lots of branches had been chopped or broken down by workmen as they prepared our new premises, the children excitedly lifted and manouvered them asking if they could keep them?  Of course we can! Lets make our own climbing area inside the fence was my reply.
We eagerly carried long, short, heavy, light, thick and thin branches making sure we challenged the children’s learning as we worked. The buzz of excitement and co-operative working was fantastic as children instructed us to ‘tie it up’ ‘put it there’ ‘you hold that cos I need to pull the other end’, they looked for reassurance from staff barely believing they were able to build their own climbing den.
Some 12 lengths later the den was complete, with high and low branches perfect for climbing.  Throughout our project which took under 1hr to complete the children were reminded to consider health and safety, to think about how high branches should go, consider what might happen if they fall, think about what to hold on to as they move around, they risk assessed so well discussing with friends and using language of safe play.
Our structure has now stood firm for 6wks,,, the children have added straps and bungee ropes to support them as they climb and have discussed climbing in wet weather, shoes they should wear and how many people should climb at a time.
This has go to be the easiest and most valuable climbing frame/den I have ever had the privilage to work on and even though we feel it will have to move from high to low very soon to allow over and under working we know the climbing high independenlty was a rich experience for all children.