Tips & Inspiration

Climbing and Play Trees: A Natural Play Area with Character

Children don’t need instructions when it comes to trees. Play comes naturally: a branch becomes a stepping stone, a canopy a hiding place, and the trunk an invitation to climb higher.

Climbing and play trees give children space to move, explore, and invent their own games in a healthy environment. At Boomkwekerij Joos, we grow climbing trees with an eye for form and character, so that play and nature go hand in hand.

Klim en speelbomen natuurlijke speelruimte met karakter Boomkwekerij Joos Waregem 1

Playing in nature is different

Playing in trees isn’t just fun for children. According to research, it also boosts their self-confidence and self-reliance. After all, as they climb and scramble, they learn to assess risks, push their limits, and develop their motor skills. A tree grows along with a child’s imagination and offers a different experience every day. That makes trees one of the most valuable play elements in a garden, school setting, or landscaping project.

A play or climbing tree is also a sustainable alternative to traditional playground equipment. They require no annual inspections, no artificial surfacing, and only grow more beautiful with age—making them well worth the investment!

What makes a tree suitable for climbing?

Not every tree is automatically a good climbing tree. Ideal climbing trees branch out low to the ground, have a sturdy trunk, and develop strong, resilient side branches that don’t tear or break easily. Joos Tree

Nursery nurtures climbing trees from a young age, ensuring their structure feels logical and intuitive. During cultivation, the tree remains open and accessible at the base. Higher up, the crown becomes more compact, naturally limiting how high you can climb. Thanks to underground anchoring, our ready-to-climb trees can be used immediately after planting.

Multi-stemmed or feathered: two types of climbing trees

Climbing trees come in various forms, each offering a unique experience:

Feathered climbing trees

These trees have a single trunk with regular branching starting low on the trunk. They provide a clear climbing line along the trunk, with sturdy side branches on both the left and right. Through careful pruning, the young wood is removed, leaving a strong climbing framework.

Multi-trunk climbing trees

Multi-trunk climbing trees create a more playful climbing course. The trunks grow together from the bottom up, allowing children to climb both on the outside and in the open center of the tree. The climbing route is less predictable, which adds an extra challenge. Older multi-trunk trees, in particular, are ideal for this purpose.

More Than Just Climbing: Play Trees in the Garden

In addition to climbing, trees can also offer other opportunities for play. Some species form natural huts or shelters, while others are perfect for building tents or platforms around. Large solitary shrubs, such as hazel, hawthorn, or spindle tree, are grown at a distance to form broad, tall clumps up to six meters high: ideal for hiding, providing privacy, or creating spaces in the garden. They fill spaces, provide screening, and add volume and character. They’re not merely decorative, but an active part of the garden.

Each species requires a different approach to pruning and care—and that’s exactly where our expertise makes all the difference!

Charles Van Tieghem, Joos Tree Nursery

Favorite Tree Species for Climbing and Playing

Not every tree is suitable as a climbing tree. Species with thorns, brittle wood, or sap are not suitable. At Joos Tree Nursery, we select trees with strong wood and a natural branching pattern.

Commonly used climbing trees include:

Platanus hispanica (plane tree) – fast-growing, strong, and highly resilient
Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) – tough wood and beautiful, regular branching
Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Caucasian wingnut) – broad, playful, and ideal for hiding in
Acer species (maple) – robust and well-branched
Quercus (oak) – extremely strong wood for heavy-duty use

Each species requires a different approach to pruning and care: this is exactly where our expertise makes all the difference!

Fun starts with the right tree

Whether it’s a private garden, a school setting, or a landscaping project, the right climbing tree makes all the difference. By carefully managing its shape and structure from the very beginning, you create a tree that is safe, challenging, and durable. It provides a space amidst the greenery where children can climb, play, and explore their own world—just as they should.