8 September 2025
At Reunion on Saturday, 6 September 2025, kindly hosted by Caldecott Foundation at Caldecott House, Smeeth, we were shown images of proposals for what may loosely be referred to as a Tree House, to be constructed in a lightly wooded part of the grounds near car parking in the north-western corner of the Smeeth site. CF has secured funds for this project. It is currently for public consultation in order that planning permission be granted next month or so. This ought to be a formality as planning permission for an earlier version was granted in May 2023. There are some significant changes of layout and design, hence a new application was required.
More accurately, the proposal is for a raised wooden structure, featuring a circular room of 8 metres circumference (43 sq m internal area, having a door and seven double-glazed windows), a main deck area plus (reached by rope bridge) a covered deck area, also a winding ramp for access by disabled person and others. The main structure will be supported by poles concreted into the ground or on screw piles. High specification, seems splendid. The structure will be used for 'Forest school' outdoor learning and recreational activities. Children and staff should enjoy it, better than being in classrooms etc.
As I am a bit 'old school', I suppose that it is not exactly a traditional tree house (in the sense of being up a tree) as I recall, often crude and cheap, not up to modern health and safety requirements etc. However, it will obviously be a worthwhile addition to the facilities in the grounds of the CF children's homes and schools.
