The Enid Blyton Society

Very interesting report, which I saw on tonight's Anglia News - http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2016-09- ... est-in-uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A lovely story, Billy.

I saw a photo of that in our local Birmingham paper. What surprises me about so-called treehouses these days is that they are hardly ever built actually in the tree. Must be a safety issue! My dad built us a treehouse in a hazelnut tree. It was only around four feet off the ground, but at least it was cradled by the branches, with planks of wood fixed to the branches. It lasted years, so it was certainly very solid! Recent ones just seem to be built on stilts, surrounding the trunk, rather than in the tree. That seems to be cheating a bit!

Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing, Rob. My cousins, when I was little, lived on a 5-acre property and they had a treehouse that was right up high in a really tall tree (can't remember now whether it was a gum tree or a conifer of some sort) — you needed a ladder to get up there. It was so high I was always a bit too scared to climb up to it, so I can't now remember whether I ever did — I have a feeling I never managed it. Probably would be considered too much of a health & safety issue nowadays...

Even so, that's a delightful treehouse for that little girl, and how cool that it was inspired directly by the Faraway Tree! If only it were a bit higher, she could get her parents to install her own version of the Slippery-Slip...

I must admit - its a shame it doesn't have a slippery slip!

I'd have loved that as a child. I suppose the nearest thing you could get to a slippery slip would be to add a twisty slide.

Anita Bensoussane wrote:I suppose the nearest thing you could get to a slippery slip would be to add a twisty slide.

Yes, that's what I was thinking of. Hollowing out the inside of the tree might be a bit too much!

A wonderful story, Billy.

Split from another topic.

Charmed by the news story on Meridian of a little girl who loves THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE book, and is lucky enough to have her very own tree house on that theme:

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2016-0 ... do-better/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's one very lucky little girl. I really like the fact that it's built around the tree, and is made of reclaimed wood, sticks etc. I loved the bucket on the rope - inspired by Dame Washalot's basket perhaps?

Great to hear a Enid Blyton portrayed positively too.

Billy Farmer wrote:Very interesting report, which I saw on tonight's Anglia News - http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2016-09- ... est-in-uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The treehouse, can now be seen on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY6Qv-TID_s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Crikey, before he started speaking, I almost thought that presenter was a reincarnation of Steve Irwin.

Anyway, another nice video — thanks, Billy — although they didn't mention this time where the name of the treehouse comes from! But probably a lot of people would work it out pretty quickly.