Den Building Ideas

Going Wild are back again! This week, they’re sharing some of their favourite den-building ideas - and we think they’re rather brilliant.

There’s something wonderfully exciting about building a den. Give children a handful of sticks, a shady corner and a little bit of freedom, and their imaginations can do the rest. Suddenly, the garden becomes a forest, a pile of branches becomes a woodland fortress and a patch of grass becomes the secret headquarters of a band of intrepid explorers.

So, can your young adventurer build one of these brilliant dens? Let their imaginations run wild!

What makes a brilliant den?

An outdoor den can be almost anything you want it to be. It might be a simple stick camp tucked away in the woods, with a leafy roof and a secret entrance. Perhaps it’s a hideaway in a garden hedge, a cosy shelter for spying on birds and squirrels, or a little house nestling among the branches of a favourite tree. At the beach, driftwood can become the walls of a seaside shelter. An old shed might be transformed into a muddy café serving imaginary cakes and cups of tea. A living willow dome can become a magical green hidey-hole, while ancient tree roots might inspire a hobbit hole worthy of a whole new adventure.

And you don't need a forest, either. Den building can happen absolutely anywhere. Throw a rug over a washing line and you have a secret tent. Turn a garden trampoline into a space rocket and prepare for blast-off. A football goal can become a cowboy camp, while a big cardboard box can be transformed into a castle, pirate ship, train or dragon's lair. You could even bring some indoor furniture outside and create an outdoor indoor den. A couple of chairs, an old blanket and some cushions might become the most luxurious woodland hotel in the world.

And dens don't have to be life-sized. Build a tiny castle for a toy soldier, a miniature tipi for a teddy or a fairy-sized shelter beneath a bush. Look closely and you might discover that the smallest spaces can inspire the biggest adventures.

Where will your den take you?

The really magical thing about den building is that the finished den is only the beginning. Perhaps your children will disappear into another world through a secret portal. Maybe the garden has become an enchanted forest where woodland warriors are defending their kingdom. Perhaps forest fairies are hiding beneath the leaves, or dangerous dragons are lurking just beyond the trees. A den can be a spaceship, a pirate hideout, a detective headquarters, a dinosaur nest, a medieval castle or a cosy reading nook.

There are no rules about what a den should be. Let children lead the way. Give them time, space and a few simple materials and see where their imaginations take them. And don't worry if the finished den looks a little wonky. In fact, that's part of the fun! A den doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be somewhere that children have imagined, created and made their own.

Responsible den building

Of course, while we want children to explore and get stuck into the natural world, we also want them to become its caretakers. Our precious woodlands, parks, beaches and gardens need looking after, so help young den builders understand that being an explorer comes with responsibilities. Encourage children to leave nature as they found it. Don't break branches from living trees, pull up plants or damage habitats. Instead, look for loose sticks, fallen leaves and other natural materials that can be collected without causing harm. It's a lovely opportunity to talk about the difference between something that is growing and something that has naturally fallen to the ground. Children can become nature detectives, carefully choosing materials that won't hurt the places they are exploring.

If you're building a den using things you've brought from home — blankets, string, cardboard, pegs or other materials — remember to take everything away again when the adventure is over. Leaving no trace means that another family, another explorer or perhaps a curious little animal can enjoy that wild space too.

Wild time, happy children

At Going Wild, we believe that making space in children's lives for a little more wild time can help them feel happier, healthier and more connected to the world around them. Children need opportunities to run, climb, balance, build, get muddy, make mistakes and simply wonder. They need time outdoors when there isn't a screen telling them what to do next. Den building is a wonderful way to make that happen - it encourages problem-solving and creativity. Children have to work out how to balance a stick, support a roof or make an entrance big enough to crawl through. They negotiate, cooperate and experiment. They might build something that collapses — and then build it again.

Most importantly, they are spending time immersed in the natural world. In a world where technology is an increasingly important part of childhood, it matters that children also become familiar with the feel of bark beneath their fingers, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the smell of damp earth after rain. The more time children spend outside, the more they notice. And the more they notice, the more they can begin to understand and care about the extraordinary, fragile ecosystems that surround us and on which all our futures depend.

Ready, steady… den!

So, what are you waiting for? Find a handful of sticks. Gather a blanket. Choose a secret corner. Invite a teddy, a toy soldier or a whole gang of woodland warriors. Then step back and let the children take over.

Build a den. Make a mess. Tell a story. Get muddy. Explore. Imagine. Who knows where the doorway might lead!