Up a plane tree

There is a tree in the Midlands: a huge, old London Plane that is quite magnificent. We climbed it yesterday. My son, my daughter and my friend, we all climbed it and zip wired, zip-a-dee-doo-dah down.

It all started when my friend, D, decided that his partner should reclaim her childhood and climb a tree so he found a band of professional tree climbers who organise supervised climbing and booked for us all to have a go.

Off we went yesterday to Compton Verney, a beautiful old home which has been turned into an art gallery both inside and outside. It has grounds laid down by Capability Brown with lots of wonderful trees.

I am particularly proud of my soon-to-be 7 year old and my soon-to-be 9 year old for just getting on with it and climbing up there. My daughter had the most arduous route and had to negotiate a big big branch but she did it and has a tale to tell now. I did it too. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I was concentrating too much!

Many thanks to Adam and Oliver of The Great Big Tree Climbing Company who made the whole experience possible. And thanks to David who when we decided to book it said "I've climbed enough trees in my time" and declined to book his place. He took all the photos but I think he did have a bit of a yen to do it himself. And thanks to D who gave us the idea and treated us to a lovely day out.

Have a go yourselves. Reclaim your childhood. You'll like it.