In this lively Ludo Botany special, we explore tree climbing as play, practice, and design. Lewis brings fresh research on branch collars, spacing, and load strength while Gemma brings lived experience on how different trees invite different kinds of movement. From laurel and rhododendron “nest” trees to coppice stools and swooping live-oak ramps, they unpack species, shapes, and access. The chat ranges across myths and heuristics, defender branches, orthotropic versus horizontal shoots, group dynamics in shared trees, how adult presence changes the climb, and why our bodies feel different in trees compared with ladders. It wraps with a community callout for your best natural loose parts for the next Ludo Botany episode. 🌳

⏱ Chapter Timings

00:44 – New cold open, studio fidgets, and scene-setting

02:30 – Ludo Botany focus: tree climbing, research versus lived experience

06:16 – Myths to mechanics: collar development, spacing, and those wrist-width rules

12:34 – Trees on slopes, branch distribution, and what that means for access

15:09 – Defender branches, orthotropic versus horizontal shoots, and bark wear

20:19 – “Nest” trees and fallen logs: comfort, horizontality, and play worlds

23:14 – Species and cultivation: coppice, mini-pollards, and live-oak style ramps

33:25 – Adult gaze, crowding, etiquette, and height as status in shared trees

37:30 – Bodies and brains: startle reflex, evolution, and why trees beat ladders

54:31 – Next up: loose parts callout and how to send in voice notes

🌲 Keywords: Ludo Botany, tree climbing, branch collar strength, defender branches, orthotropic shoots, coppice and pollard, live oaks, laurel and rhododendron nests, group dynamics, inclusive play design

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#ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #NaturePlay #TreeClimbing #LudoBotany

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