Fort Ferncastle

• Big enough for two children inside: 110 × 80 cm, 125 cm high
• Printed line art to colour in: stones, ivy, a dragon, a window cat
• Slot-together build with cardboard clips, no tape or glue
• Folds flat behind a sofa when it isn’t a castle

Fort Ferncastle is a play castle made of thick recycled cardboard, big enough for two small knights to sit inside. The outside is printed with black line art for colouring in: stone walls, ivy, arrow-slit windows, a cat looking out of a tower and a dragon sleeping round the back. The drawbridge goes up and down on a cotton cord.

Two toys in one

First it’s a colouring project, which can last a whole rainy week. Felt-tip pens and crayons both work well on the matt print; poster paint works too if you let it dry flat. Then it’s a den, a castle, a shop, a puppet theatre, a dragon’s lair. Children are more protective of something they’ve decorated themselves, and a coloured-in castle tends to survive a lot longer than a plain one.

Build and store

The panels slot together with cardboard clips, so there is no tape and no glue. An adult needs about 15 minutes. When the castle isn’t needed it folds flat (about 110 × 125 × 6 cm) and slides behind a sofa or under a bed.

Honest about cardboard

This is a cardboard toy and it isn’t meant to last ten years. With indoor use and no climbing on the walls, it typically lasts a year or more. When it’s done, it goes in the paper recycling.

What’s in the box

• Pre-printed castle panels with line art
• Drawbridge with cotton cord
• 2 towers with flags
• Assembly clips (cardboard, no tape)
• Instruction sheet

Size, materials and care

Size: 110 × 80 × 125 cm (W × D × H), 6 kg. Materials: Recycled corrugated cardboard (FSC), Plant-based inks. Recommended age: 4 years and up.

Indoor use only. Keep dry. Recycle with paper when it is finally retired.

Safety

Tested to EN 71-1, EN 71-2, EN 71-3 and CE marked.

Questions about Fort Ferncastle

How long does a cardboard castle last?

Indoors, kept dry and not climbed on, usually a year or more. It’s 6 mm double-wall corrugated cardboard, much thicker than a moving box.

What should we use to colour it?

Felt-tip pens, crayons and poster paint all work on the matt surface. Avoid very wet watercolour, which can make the cardboard warp.

Does it need tape or glue?

No. The panels slot together with the included cardboard clips. It takes an adult about 15 minutes and can be taken apart again to store flat.