SLEEPING IN THE TREES

How one man’s dream created a world-renowned experience

I was struck by the notion that no matter how crazy or inconceivable an idea is, if it just won’t go away, we might as well put practicality aside and follow the thread to see where it leads.

“It was an idea that just wouldn’t go away.”

I first met Tom Chudleigh about eight years ago when a good friend, who had heard about Free Spirt Spheres near Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, booked us in for a fun little get-away.

We chatted briefly with Tom as he led us to our accommodation, which was contained in a beautiful sphere, expertly suspended by ropes in the trees. His words stayed with me, coming to mind in those moments of inspiration when rationality attempts to dismiss an idea that seems a bit “out there.” I was struck by the notion that no matter how crazy or inconceivable an idea is, if it just won’t go away, we might as well put practicality aside and follow the thread to see where it leads.

In this case, I imagine anyone who has the opportunity to stay at Free Spirit Spheres—and people come from all over the world to do so—is thankful that Tom gave life to this dream, creating a truly unique experience that feels part Ewok village, part futuristic submarine and part fantasy airship with Lord of the Rings -esque detailing.

So it is with excitement that I arrive at the spheres again, so many years later, to sleep among the trees, let the natural sway of the forest lull me into slumber and meet Tom again to dig deeper into the genius of his idea and understand the work that goes into each sphere. I want to explore this “idea that wouldn’t go away” and find out where it came from in the first place.

“In my belief system, ‘original’ ideas don’t come from people, they come through people. I think the spirit realm is the source of new ideas and receptive people are the vehicles to deliver them. I’m one of those people that is receptive to new ideas and I have the skills to manifest them,” says Tom whose background is in shipbuilding.

We head out on a tour and the property is gorgeous, with two of the resort’s three spheres currently suspended—one in the trees and one from a masterfully constructed wooden structure—each set in private spaces around a huge pond. Both are luxurious inside and brilliantly designed with a daytime set-up that magically transforms to a night-time configuration.

When Tom shows me his workshop, I can best describe it as a reflection of a marvellous, mad genius. In the centre of the sprawling barn-style shop sits a huge wooden sphere, surrounded by the tools of the trade. I’m suddenly struck by the realization that not only did Tom develop and construct a completely unique structure, he first had to create the tools required to build it. I wondered out loud what skills enabled Tom to build these spheres.

“I am a multi-medium artisan,” he says. “I’ve learned how to work with wood, metal, bronze, rope, fibreglass, plastic and nature. Each material has its uses and limitations. A complex project like this requires many material changes and the trick is to get them to blend harmoniously. It takes two to three man years to finish a fibreglass sphere. It takes about a year more to do a wooden sphere.

“I made my first sphere, Eve, out of yellow cedar because I loved the wood and thought it would last a long time. We put up Eve, the first suspended spherical tree house, in the spring of 1998 on Denman Island. I had spent the previous five years building it. We tried two different groves of trees that summer, which gave us a little experience hanging and moving a sphere. I launched a web page that fall and Free Spirit Spheres was born.”

Tom built the second sphere, Eryn, from Sitka spruce because it was lighter, stronger and took glue better.

“Over the years, the spheres and suspension systems have evolved. The second sphere was bigger with more windows,” he says, adding, “The door and window hardware became custom-cast bronze with runes and Celtic knots. The door hinges and latching systems became much more sophisticated. The attachment points and tethers became more tangential to the sphere.”

They also had to build a winch to install and move spheres around in the forest—without roads—and purchase a set of three gauges that could measure stresses and strains. “Since then, we have been strain-testing everything on the spheres and in the forest,” he says.

They also had to rig the support trees with back stays, and the liability trees with ropes to deflect them if they fall or break. This allows them to “damp” the tree movement in the wind, and prevent essential trees from falling or breaking.

Importantly, Tom adds, “This enables us to minimize any negative impacts on the forest”—something that is extremely important to him and his wife, Rosey Cowan, who together run the Free Spirit Spheres.

As my adventure in the trees begins, Rosey and Tom take me to the sphere called Melody, where I will be staying, and show me how everything works. The sensation inside is similar to a boat: stable but gently responsive to movement. The view out the circular windows is a perspective of the forest usually reserved for birds and tree critters. No space is wasted; every inch is considered and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

According to their website, Tom and Rosey have added sale of the spheres to their business.

“This is a new direction,” Tom confirms. “So far all the spheres I’ve built have been hand-crafted artisan spheres.The new spheres are designed for assembly line production, more like a production yacht. We are selling the spheres and suspension systems and risk management programs, and marketing it all as a franchise opportunity. The first production run will come out this fall and winter, and it looks like they will be manufactured by a boat-building shop in California.”

And what else is in the future for Free Spirit Spheres?

“We’re hoping to move to a better forest with different zoning so we can put up all of the spheres I’ve built. We want to have all six spheres hanging in the forest canopy. They will be connected by suspension bridges, and spiral stairways will provide access to the ground.”

That night, after a beautiful afternoon walking the trails around the Free Spirit Spheres property, enjoying a lovely dinner brought to eat in the sphere and finally having a sauna in the property’s bathhouse, I find myself tucked snugly into bed. More than ever, I have an awareness that I am supported by the living giants of this forest. And, as I feel their subtle movements, more of Tom’s words come to mind.

Asked what his greatest joy on this “spherical” path has been, he answered, “Seeing the looks on people’s faces when they first step into their sphere. Also, the people who come here to stay are a very unique and special slice of humanity. The effect the experience has on them is profound. The forest and nature connection is number one for the guests, especially since the pandemic. People seem to be more hungry than ever to reconnect with nature.”