Amazing Stuff

Even for those already living the highlife, owning one of these luxury tree houses would be a real tree-t.

At £250,000 each, these fairytale treetop palaces are the latest in a global trend for bespoke garden living, claims their English designer.

They include a James Bond style safe-house with CCTV and biometric security systems, fairytale castles and forest-getaways for home county executives.

Director Simon Payne, 33, of Tunbridge Wells-based luxury tree house company, Blue Forest, has helped both children and adults create their Robin Hood Prince of Thieves-style forest kingdoms.

'It’s been tough economically for the country,' said Simon. 'But we are finding that private clients at the top-end of the market can still afford luxury.

'Many of our clients are wealthy CEO’s and celebrities who want to make the most of their secluded gardens.

Outside: The thatched Hightech Hideaway is built on a private estate in Athens, Greece, and costs up to £200,000. It has fingerprint recognition, a bespoke video security system covering each entrance

'Now we are increasingly finding that it’s big kids who want a place to retreat to and play in.'

Blue Forest is a family business run by Simon and his brother, Andy.

The brothers grew up in Kenya and their designs are directly inspired by the tree house structures and lodges they encountered in the East African country.

'Andy was taking part in a conservation project in Kenya about eight years ago,' said Simon.

'I have always been in love with Kenya and the project sounded fantastic so I joined him.

'We were building a tree house for tourists to stay in where the money is ploughed back into the local community.

'The tree house and wooden structures we found in Kenya were amazing so we felt we could bring this back to the UK.'

Incredibly these tree houses are not all about getting people back to nature.

Simon’s tree house design for a private estate in Greece was so high-tech it included the very latest in fingerprint recognition, a bespoke video security system covering each entrance as well as a kitchen, wet room and large living area with plasma television and an array of games consoles.

'Structures are increasingly family orientated so everyone can have the fun they want,' said Simon.

'One recent client of mine had recently sold his business and retired.

'He wanted a peaceful space for himself to watch Sky television and relax in nature with a whiskey.

'Then he had an adventure playground attached so he could keep the grandchildren busy when they came round to visit.'

The tree house structures are usually made from sustainable wood from North America such as spruce and pine - and are then finished with cedar and oak.

Simon has also helped design a £150K fairy tale castle in a secret garden set in the English countryside with deer, grouse and pheasants to a lakeside paradise tree house on the banks of Lake Garda in Italy.

'In Britain we find that our tree houses add saleability to people’s homes because of the wow factor they create,' said Simon.

'Abroad it tends to be more about creating a space to retreat to.

'As time has gone on we’ve gotten big and bolder in our designs.

'Only time will tell where and what we will be building next.'