Trampolines!

[veggiechicken]

Look out for old garden trampolines, often offered on Freecycle because the bouncy bits have been wrecked. I acquired a 12' diameter one. The metal base frame slots together to make a circle which could be covered with netting to keep birds/cats off your plants. I made a temporary chicken enclosure out of mine.
The best bits are the upright posts that fit into the base. Mine has plastic caps on which mean that netting can be draped over it easily. Not tried this but you could drop blue water pipe into these posts to make the base for a coldframe/ polytunnel.
Being intended for outdoor use the metal is very sturdy and doesn't rust (?aluminium).

[Newton]

Brilliant ideas veggie chicken.......

[Hans Mum]

& I used the net enclosure and some of the poles to make a fruit cage when DD gave hers up

[veggiechicken]

I didn't have the net with mine as it was a write off but I can see how useful it would be.

[chris]

I thought you were going to sing the joys of having them in the garden. I was just abuot to go and muzzle TS

[Aberdeenplotter]

You would have to muzzle me as well. We had one come over a six foot fence into our neighbours garden, through ours and out over the wall into the other neighbours. Missed my greenhouse by a whisker but it could have killed someone. Grrrh

[chris]

In the wind? Blimey!

[veggiechicken]

AP, Are we talking metal framed trampoline here? The metal frame is very heavy. And I thought it was windy here!!!

[Newton]

Ours took a short trip next door too. Over a 6' sandstone wall. No damage thankfully. The wind just lifted it up and took it lie you see in hurricanes. It's 10' wide and very heavy......

[veggiechicken]

I suppose there would be less windage without the bouncy base and all the netting. - I hope so!!
Beware of low flying trampolines.