Support for new Aden Country Park treehouse

Aberdeenshire Council is working in partnership with Friends of Aden to replace a now vandalised treehouse that was enjoyed by visitors for more than 40 years. 

Back in August of this year, the treehouse within Aden Country Park was vandalised beyond repair—its stairway and supports destroyed. For safety, the treehouse will be removed. 

A survey of the horse chestnut tree that has supported the treehouse for many years has shown it, too, is slowly deteriorating; it will be overseen by the council’s Landscape Services before its final removal.    

The vandalised treehouse will be dismantled and any parts or materials that can be recycled will be reused elsewhere in Aden Country Park. 

Cllr Alan Turner, Chair of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said:  "Working in partnership with the Friends of Aden, we are exploring all sponsorship, donation, and funding opportunities to replace the treehouse. It’s disappointing to lose such a well-loved feature, but we hope to create something new and sustainable that future generations can enjoy. We’re grateful for the support of Friends of Aden and everyone who has donated this far.” 

Crowdfunding to replace the treehouse has already begun via a Just Giving page by Friends of Aden Vice Chair Linda Bolger. 

Donations have already come in from Mintlaw & District Men's Shed as well as the teachers and pupils of Mintlaw Academy who raised funds via a bike ride to support the treehouse. 

Linda said: “The hope is that we can raise enough funds to replace the treehouse with a new structure in a different location within the park. It's going to take time to raise the funds, so it's not going to happen overnight. We are looking at a major fundraiser for the next financial year for a structure that will take us into the future and hopefully for the next 40 years.” 

If you would like to support the creation of a new treehouse within Aden Country Park, please head to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/linda-bolger 

Pictured from left to right are Robert Sinclair (Landscape Services), pupils of Mintlaw Academy’s S3 ASL Horizons Class, Gillian Armstrong (Principal Teacher), Linda Bolger (Friends of Aden), John Sibbert (Landscape Services).