As any parents of young children will know, it is important to encourage the kids to turn off the television on a beautiful summer day and get outside for some fresh air.

But how can you entice the youngsters to appreciate their own backyard if it is nothing more than a patch of grass with a big old tree in the middle?

One great idea might be to set yourself the task of building a brand new tree house that will impress even the biggest couch potato.

If you have the right amount of space and a tree with the size and shape to build around, this could be a DIY project that provides a boost to the family home's entertainment value for years to come.

Of course with a job like this you need to do it well - the tree house must be safe and sturdy for the kids to play in, as well as spacious and aesthetically pleasing enough to get them excited.

For easy access up to the height of the branches and a solid base from which to build, you need a secure device such as scissor lifts.

These handy items can elevate your work platform from medium-to-rough terrain to help you lay the early foundations and floorboards, while later on you might need to hire a variety of saws and power tools for the more intricate parts of the process.