Savanna bird hide - plans for a free standing playhouse

Build your own bird hide with these easy to follow plans. This Savanna design was created as a wildlife watching platform, but could equally be used as a simple children's playhouse. It is large enough for one person to sleep or three to fit comfortably inside sitting on the floor.

If you don't have trees to build a treehouse, this is an alternative that gives some impression of height whilst being lower to the ground. Two windows at the front and one on each side provide wide viewing angles and bring in lots of light.

The design uses plywood for the outer layer, so is easy to customize with trim, paint, and cladding like cedar shingles or shiplap. This gives a lot of flexibility in the final look, so you could match the finish of your main house, or create a rustic forest hideaway with the same base structure.

Specification
- 8' x 4' platform, with 32 sq ft of enclosed floor space
- Ceiling height is 3' minimum, 4' maximum
- Floor height from ground level can be up to 6'

Features
- Full wood and hardware lists, using materials that are easy to find locally or online
- Trapdoor access through the floor, with ladder built into the support posts
- Can be built on flat or slightly sloping terrain
- No complicated techniques or joints to learn

What's included?
- Plans in PDF format, ready to download and use on any device
- 33 pages with 32 diagrams covering every stage of construction
- Marginless PDF versions for tablets or ereaders
- 28 day satisfaction guarantee
- Email assistance with the build

The bird hide is fabricated in sections at ground level, then lifted into position and fixed together. This streamlined process is easier and faster than building everything at a height, and means you can build most of the structure inside a garage or workshop, even in bad weather.

This project requires a flat or gently sloping site that isn't prone to flooding or subsidence and which is clear of buried cables and pipes. If you are unsure about the suitability of your soil, find reliable local advice. We do not advise building on a slope of more than 45 degrees without specialist instruction.