George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, Series 6, Episode 1: see inside the Woodman's Treehouse in a magical Dorset woodland

As part of his series celebrating risky, inventive and ingenious small-builds, George Clarke visits Guy Mallinson as he builds a £120,000 treehouse at the bottom of his garden in Dorset
Matilda Battersby13 March 2020

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces is back for a new series and this week he’s been living the high life in a treehouse fit for a woodland king.

Continuing his search for innovative and ingenious small builds, the architect and television presenter follows master craftsman Guy Mallinson as he fulfils a childhood dream at treetop-height.

“It’s not your normal treehouse, it’s very, very luxurious. So we’re building around the trees so we can be up among the branches, up amongst the tree, to enjoy it,” Mallinson said.

With the help of his three sons Mallinson has self-built the treehouse at a cost of just over £120,000 on his land in Dorset.

Standing at 6 metres tall and about 30ft up in the trees, it surrounds a powerful 200-year-old oak tree.

Inside the luxurious Woodsman's Treehouse

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The treehouse has two levels with a rope bridge leading to a central, circular open plan living and sleeping space featuring modern kitchen, wood burner, roll top bath and a large double bed.

Outside there is decking with picnic area, hammock, outdoor shower and even a pizza over. While, up a spiral staircase on the treehouse roof there is a hot tub and sauna with glorious views.

It also has a long slide which enables a quick trip back to ground-level from the surrounding deck.

The structure is fixed into the ground using metal screw piles that go 5 metres into the wet, boggy ground – something Mallinson had to reinforce after the treehouse began to wobble worryingly.

The Woodland Treehouse is available to rent from £310 per night in the “adults-only “Crafty Camping glamping site - but it definitely appeals to big kids.

The treehouse was declared “wonderful” by Clarke and co-presenter Will Hardie enjoyed the slide so much that he ended up in an unglamorous heap on the boggy woodland floor.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, Channel 4 Thursdays at 8pm