We are very excited to welcome The Great Big Tree Climbing Company to Tylney Hall, as part of our National Garden Scheme (NGS) Open Day on Sunday 29th April 2018.
Visitors can channel their inner-child and take to the great big cedar tree that graces our grounds, overlooking the mansion house - offering an alternative view of our Grade II listed country hotel.
We caught up with The Great Big Tree Climbing Company's Founder & Director, Mark Hawes, to find out more about our growing love of recreational tree climbing.
You took over 8,000 people to the trees last year, why do you think tree climbing is becoming more and more popular?
I think its all about the older generation wanting their kids to reconnect with the great outdoors. I have fond memories of us as a family running around on Shirley Hills playing all sorts of games. There were no computers, so you had to make your own fun and there is nothing better than to get out into the fresh air and do something exhilarating like Tree Climbing with the whole family. There is a real sense of achievement and bonding for the family no matter what their abilities are.
So, just how do we get kids to swap technology for nature/scampering up trees?
We work with a number of schools and public bodies. It is quite interesting that sometimes you can get a group of kids who turn up and they think they are ‘ too cool for School’ and certainly too cool to go tree climbing. However, you get them up in the canopy and that cool veneer soon wears off and you find it hard to get them back down to earth.
You say you’re aimed at 6-year olds upwards, with no upper age – do you get many grown-up up in the canopy?
We do! Our oldest person was a Grandfather in his late 80’s. The best one for me though was a Grandmother, her Daughter and Grandaughter all up in the canopy climbing together. Fantastic!
How do you ensure you leave no impact to the trees?
Our default when it comes to a trees conservation is simple - we like to think that after we have left an event you would not know we had been on site. We use no intrusive methods to get into a tree. All our climbing lines are set with cambium savers, to protect the trees involved. The reason why I think that we able to get into some very old and important trees, including the magnificent cedar at Tylney. A real majestic giant and we cannot wait to get up into it.
You’ll be joining us for our NGS extended open day on 29th April – what can guests expect?
We will be climbing the absolutely amazing Deodar cedar at Tylney, a veteran, it is fantastic that we have been given permission to use it! It is worth thinking about the fact that the tree is probably around 130 years old and in that time only very few people, if any, have had the privilege of climbing it. It has great form with branches all the way down. The views from the top will be great as well. It is our intention to have either half hour or hour sessions, where lucky customers will get the thrill of climbing into the canopy using ropes and harnesses and under instruction from our well-trained instructors. We hope that this will be the start of a great tree climbing adventure with Tylney Hall.
Tylney Hall will open our 66-acre grounds and gardens to the general public as part of the NGS Open Garden Scheme.
Sunday 29th April 2018, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Entry: £5 adults on arrival (donated to the NGS charity) and children go free!
Book your tree climbing session in advance with The Great Big Tree Climbing Company, for an additional cost of £20 per slot.
Minimum age of 6-years-old and no upper age!