I think by now, we’ve established that I’m one of them there city dwelling, nay urban, kinda chicks. Having said that, at the same time, I’m also a big kid easily excitable by anything remotely magical or escapist. Well, I was walking around Regents Park the other day, yes walking not skating (see previous rant on that topic), and as if by magic I stumbled across this little corner that had been transformed into something not too dismiliar to Endor/Tana from Star Wars. The only thing it was lacking, to my great dismay, were of course Ewoks.

Any ways, I digress! ‘The Treehouse gallery’ is a self-funded collective that have created this amazing space that anyone can go along to, do workshops, contribute in any way they like, build things and generally have a play. There’s two intricate and exquisite tree houses; the ‘Spherical Reading Gallery’ which as you guessed is furnished with books which are beautifully bound in bark and another, the ‘Budding Hub Gallery’ which has aged Beregere chairs so you can sit, be peaceful and take in the view. There’s also a huge, oversized, Alice in Wonderlandesque swing fit for two nestled on the edge of the riverbank, a ‘peacepod’ that gently swings with the breeze and, of course, in the midst of it all, thrown in for good measure there’s the ‘Orbidesic Dome Stage’ featuring a charismatic old piano that you can sit and tinkle away on.

Now, I don’t know about you but I’ve never seen a ‘Peacepod’ before, let alone sat in one….until now! All I can say is, a bit like ‘Ronseal’, it does what it says on the tin: I was peacefully sitting in a pod, gently swinging in the ‘summer’ breeze, looking out over the lake in the center of hectic north London and truly, I felt at peace – I even managed to abstain from Tweeting from the pod!

It’s near impossible to do the gallery any justice with words or convery the magic of discovering all this tucked away in a corner of north London, so here’s some pictures that should do the trick. There’s activities for children and adults all summer long, so check out the website or go explore and see if you can find it! www.thetreehousegallery.org