Sitting here, you’d be forgiven for thinking I was in the Russian countryside at a dacha. But in fact, I’m in Northamptonshire, where this amazing treehouse is being built for one lucky Russian 10-year old.

Herbie MacKenzie is the founder of the Treehouse Company. He’s been designing and building them for 6 years. He confesses to an early love of trees, ever since his childhood in Jamaica, climbing mango trees to pick their fruit.

Herbie’s enduring boyishness has found an outlet in this design. It’s full of features aimed at making the heart of a 10-year old – and his parents – race in excitement. MacKenzie explains the layout of the new treehouse:

“Below our feet will run a rope bridge that will travel out there 30-60 feet. Above my head will be a zip wire with a seat, and he’ll be able to zip right across”.

And, it’s more than just a physical plaything. Its creators were anxious to develop a mind space as well.

“We specially designed this for the effect, but for extra safety, we’ve added this panel, channeling the light into the room,” the creator says.

The upper floor will be open to the elements, and Herbie’s got ideas about how it will be used:

“This is where he’ll hang out with the birds – but these birds will have wings. Around the treehouse, he’ll have many, many tall trees, the birds will make their nests in the trees, and depending on how used to him they are, they’ll be very close to him.”

This is the first entirely free-standing treehouse the company has built. And it’s also their first order from a Russian client, but Herbie hopes it will lead to many more.

“Russians are very smiley, inherently trustworthy, and I don’t even have a contract for this job, but I just know it’s going to be fine,” he professes.

Herbie’s work isn’t finished yet. He’s now got to flat-pack the whole structure and ship it. He’ll then supervise the rebuilding of the treehouse in a woodland grove just outside Moscow.