TREE NETS NEW ZEALAND
A new way
to experience
trees.
Part craft. Part adventure.
A different perspective on the trees around us.
There’s a whole
other world
up there.
A tree net is a woven rope space suspended between trees. Somewhere to climb into, stretch out and see a familiar place differently.
Every build responds to its setting. The trees, the gaps between them and the way people move through the space all help shape the result.
Tree Nets NZ is a project led by James Isaacs to share that craft and help a New Zealand tree-net community take shape. It brings together people who love trees, working with rope and making something unexpected.
Rope becomes
somewhere.
Look closer at the spaces taking shape.
The process is part of the experience.
A different view of the water.
A handwoven space above the stream, shaped around the trees and the waterfall beside it.
The knots, the progress, the view from the net.
What if people
could experience
the trees
we care for?
Arboriculture brings an understanding of trees. Tree nets open up a creative way to put that knowledge to work.
The opportunity is to help people spend time with living trees and develop a more personal connection to them. A place to enjoy can also become a place people want to look after.
This is an invitation to explore that possibility together: arborists, rope workers, designers and people with a place in mind.
From scenery to somewhere.
A tree can become part of someone's everyday experience: a place to spend an afternoon, notice the canopy or make something with other people. That is the possibility behind increasing the use and appreciation of trees.
SHAPED BY THE TREES AROUND IT.Made outdoors.
Shared as it grows.
After years working in arboriculture, James started building tree nets as a creative project — combining practical rope work with a different way to enjoy trees.
Sharing those builds became a way to meet other curious people. Tree Nets NZ gives the craft a home: a place to discover it, ask questions and connect with others who want to be part of it.
Follow @treenets.nz for the tree-net project, or @runjames.run for the builds and the person behind them.
Meet James on InstagramCurious?
So are we.
Some of the questions that come up
when people first discover tree nets.
What exactly is a tree net?
A space made from rope woven between supporting trees or other suitable structures. It can be shaped into a place to relax, move through or spend time with other people. The builds shown here are individually made around their setting.
Is it a hammock or a treehouse?
It shares something with both. Like a hammock, it has a flexible woven surface. Like a treehouse, it creates a space in the trees. A tree net can spread across several supports and take on a shape that belongs to that particular site.
Can I learn to build one?
Sharing the making is a big part of Tree Nets NZ. The build videos show how ideas develop and how weaving progresses. They are inspiration and process notes, rather than a complete installation course. If you are keen to learn or collaborate, get in touch through Instagram.
How does tree care fit into it?
The tree is a living part of the project. Tree condition, the way attachments interact with it, growth and ongoing inspection all need consideration. The aim is to make tree care part of the design conversation from the beginning.
Are tree nets safe?
A photograph or video cannot establish whether a net is safe. That depends on the whole installation: its supports, materials, connections, access, surroundings, intended use and maintenance. These builds are shared to explore the craft; this site does not certify installations or provide a universal load rating.
Can I commission a net or buy materials?
Tree Nets NZ is currently focused on builds, sharing ideas and connecting people. There is no online shop or standard installation package on this site. If you have a project, useful materials or a collaboration in mind, start a conversation with James.
Can I visit one of the nets?
The photographs and videos do not indicate public access. There is no visitor booking programme offered here. Any access to a build needs to be arranged with the relevant landowner.
Got trees?
Got ideas?
Let’s talk.
Building a net, working with trees, making films
or simply curious? There’s room for a conversation.