We're planning a backyard natural playground.

After spotting Marganita's  cute fairy seating area I decided we had to have one. But I had no idea where I was going to find a tree stump. By chance, we visited my mum shortly after an old tree had been cut down due to safety. They were going to use it for firewood! I'm so glad we saved it.

So far these stumps from the tree that grew outside my childhood bedroom window have been stepping stumps, doll seats, a table for a delicious garden salad, and a seat for a vet. I wonder what else they will become?

Other plans for our backyard natural playground:

• A garden loom (inspired by this, this, and this).
• A bean-pole tepee (instructions here). Although after seeing this delightful Hyacinth bean tepee i'm thinking a tepee of the native Hardenbergia violacea would be especially lovely.
• A place to bake mud pies.
• A balance beam made from recycled timber.
• Lots of loose parts that change with the seasons, like driftwood blocks, leaves, pebbles, a kayak, and sticks.
• And of course it would be lovely to tempt nature to visit our playground so we are dreaming of microbat nesting boxes, butterfly attracting plants, a bird bath, and a bird house or two.

I think we need a bigger yard :-)

For more play inspiration head on over to childhood 101 for We Play.