Dad creates kids' paradise in Kambah backyard

Kambah dad Garreth Paton has created an absolute kids' paradise in the backyard of his family's home, dedicated to giving his two daughters as much opportunity as possible to be active.

There is the 70-metre pump track, monkey bars, ground-level trampoline, climbing rope, massive swing, spa, slippery dip, tree house and rock climbing wall.

The backyard has more than done the trick, with Lexi, eight, and Shilo, five, usually playing until well after the sun goes down.

"They use it all the time. My kids have never said they're bored," Garreth said.

"I'm just about to put in some new lighting. Sometimes they're riding in the dark. They just keep going.

"I'm not totally against screen time but I do like to limit it. I just find if they watch too much television, they get a bit ratty.

"But if they're outside, they're happier and the riding really helps build their confidence and strength."

Garreth says his desire to see his kids spend more times outdoors fits in with recent efforts in the ACT which may see doctors issue "green scripts" for patients to spend time outside to treat ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and mental health issues.

The idea has already gained traction in New Zealand and could be trialled in the ACT.

"I think people don't get outdoors enough," Garreth said.

"I know if I go for a bike ride, I feel better. It clears the mind, you forget about everything. It's as much about looking after your mental health as your physical health."

Garreth, an ACTION bus driver, has been a keen bike rider for almost 30 years. His wife, Cara, too, is an accomplished rider, attending two world championships.

They moved into their house in 2013, the backyard just the conventional sea of grass but also overgrown with hedges and old trees.

Garreth cleared the site and brought in 70 tonnes of road base to make the pump track, which is designed to test riders without the need for them to pedal.

He compacted the road base and later added granite and a product called DirtGlue.

The transformation was not without its trials.

Garreth bought an old street light off Gumtree ("that's where I get a lot of my stuff") and made monkey bars from it.

There was an unfortunate side effect when he was welding the pole in his shed and the zinc from the pole caused him to suffer a kind of metal fume fever like the flu. But he's all good now.

"They said there's no long-term effects," he said.

Garreth said he did the entire backyard makeover including the spa and deck for about $40,000.

He said the pump track could be made in a few days for about $4000.

He says that's a lot cheaper than a pool.

"And you can use it year-round," he said.

An ACT parliamentary inquiry into nature heard earlier this month that a trial could be established in which health practitioners in Canberra prescribe patients time outdoors with an ACT park ranger.

The idea has won support from the Australian Medical Association.