A TREEHOUSE cherished by three generations of the same family has been shortlisted to be titled Britain’s best.

Charlotte O’Neill, 23, from Tiptree, has vivid memories of her grandfather Brian Burmingham, now 65, building the family’s dream treehouse, in 1995.

It was a labour of love for Mr Burmingham, who erected it with help from Charlotte’s sister Maria and cousin Jarard, whose children now reap the benefits.

After being moved to another relative’s home and later dismantled, the treehouse has since being resurrected and is a contender for Center Parc’s nationwide search to find the UK’s Top Treehouse.

Until now, Charlotte had kept the competition a secret from her grandfather and nan, Irene.

Gazette:

She said: “I thought it would be a lovely way to thank them for putting up with all of us children, but I never imagined getting through to this stage, which is why I never told them about it.

“Granddad is quiet a quiet man, but loves kids so he’s very excited and I think he’ll be proud of himself.

“He’s also a great granddad and there’s a lovely story behind the treehouse, so I would love to be able to tell them we won.”

The treehouse will be judged by wildlife presenter and adventurer, Steve Backshall, and a panel of judges including Tom Courtney, Center Parcs’s chief treehouse builder and company CEO, Martin Dalby.

Should the O’Neill family win, their prize will be a short break in one of Center Parcs luxury treehouses.

Miss O’Neill said: “My granddad got forced into building the treehouse, but he loved it and it’s lovely that it’s being used again and has been revamped with new paint.

“It’s made from lots of recycled bits from around the garden and pieces of wood have been built into stilts.

“When I was little, we’d have sleepovers in it because there were bunk beds inside, which my granddad I think made up a military story about to entertain us, but now my niece Mia (four) and our younger cousins play inside.”

Now, with a one-year-old daughter of her own, Elsie, and another child and niece on the way, Miss O’Neill hopes the treehouse tradition will continue.