Get into the swing of things, says Nick Bailey
Bring out your inner child and add a playful focal point to your plot
For as long as I can remember there has been a swing in my father’s cottage garden. It hangs on the branch of an old Bramley and has been the centre of many a family portrait. It’s a simple affair. A heavy sisal rope and an oak plank with two holes – that’s it. It can’t have taken more than an hour to make but has brought years of simple pleasure to family members aged from seven to 70. It has a transportive effect for me, recapturing my inner-child – something we should all perhaps endeavour to do from time to time. But that aside, if nothing else, it’s a seat – a place of introspection and observation. There are several ways to introduce a swing to your plot. Here are a few:
Home-made wooden frame
A timber swing frame in the shape of a lowercase ‘n’ takes up less space than an ‘A’ frame and has the benefit of highlighting a view or vista. You’ll need heavy timbers wellsunk into concrete. Aim for 15x15cm (6x6in) timbers for both the legs and the cross beam. Pressure-treated pine will work well and has a 20 year lifespan. Whatever height you make your legs (2.2m/7.2ft is ideal) plunge at least a third of the overall length into a hole twice the size of the post and backfill with a 5:1 concrete mix. This way you’ll ensure stability for when old Auntie Flo gets carried away after a little too much Pimm’s! DIY stores or timber merchants can supply most of what you’ll need. Attach the cross beam at the top with ‘L’ shaped steel brackets. Drill rope holes through the cross beam, then pass the ropes through and tie a giant knot. The seat can be bought online or made from an oak plank with holes and knots as per the cross beam.
Old tree
If you’re blessed with an old tree sturdy enough to take a swing, then this project is easy. Use sisal rope (4cm/1½in thick) from www.naturalrope.co.uk or similar. Secure the bottom of the rope through a pre-drilled oak seat (see above) then simply level the swing by flopping the ropes over the branch and securing them with rope grips from www.cheaprope.co.uk. To ensure you don’t ‘ring-bark’ the branch and kill it off, have the rope swinging from rope grips and not rotating back and forth on the branch. It really is that simple!
Pre-made
A pre-fab swing is the easiest way to add one to your garden. Attractive wood types are available from: www.allroundfun. co.uk and www.tptoys.com or for a personalised swing, with your own words etched on it, try www.johnlewis.co.uk.