How to hide a trampoline
/Family gardens need to work hard, with competing demands from children and adults. Space for the children to play and their play equipment such as a trampoline needs to balanced with the requirement for adults to entertain and spend time relaxing in the garden, not to mention washing lines and bins. Clever design can arrange the space so that all these activities can take place in the garden without spoiling it for the other uses.
Trampolines are great pieces of play equipment because they can be enjoyed by children from the age of about 2 years old to a teenager of 14 or 15 years. Whereas other equipment such as swings or slides have a shorter lifespan. Trampolines can be used for bouncing and learning basic movements in young children, the focus of complex imaginary games in older children and place for teenagers to chat and relax as it feels ‘their own space’ away from adults. But no-one can deny that trampolines are ugly and big items to include in a garden so finding a way to disguise them or integrate them into the garden is essential. One of the easiest is to include a sunken trampoline, these are specifically designed to install at ground level and require a dish shaped hole with a ledge scooped out of the ground. An inground trampoline doesn’t require a safety net around it so relative low planting can screen it easily. Another way is to screen a section of the garden for play, screening doesn’t need to be a complete block, breaking up the outline and including a focal point, such as a statue, bird bath or striking plant, will distract attention from the trampoline and make it less imposing in a garden.
The garden illustrate below has packed into it secluded dining terrace near the house for entertaining, a wildflower meadow, trampoline, sunny sitting area, an area of lawn for games, log store, storage, fruit bushes and washing line! Dividing the space into areas with some screening between makes the space feel bigger and invites exploration. And the trampoline can’t be seen until you are right on top of it. There are a couple of before pictures at the end for reference.
