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Build A LEGO Forest!

Build A LEGO Forest!
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Build a LEGO forest on a baseplate using bricks and plant pieces; design trees, animals, and trails while exploring creativity and basic engineering.

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Step-by-step guide to build a LEGO forest

What you need
Assorted lego bricks in green brown gray tan various sizes, flat plates or tiles for trails, lego baseplate, lego plant pieces leaves and bushes, minifigures and small accessories optional, small lego animal pieces or small bricks to build animals

Step 1

Clear a flat workspace and place your LEGO baseplate in front of you.

Step 2

Look at the baseplate and choose three areas for a big medium and small tree.

Step 3

Put a single flat tile or brick on each chosen spot to mark the tree locations.

Step 4

Stack brown or tan bricks on one marked spot to build a sturdy tree trunk.

Step 5

Attach leaf and plant pieces to the top of the trunk to make a leafy canopy.

Step 6

Build the other trees at the remaining spots using different heights and leaf styles for variety.

Step 7

Make a tiny LEGO animal by snapping together small bricks or place a small animal piece in the forest.

Step 8

Create a winding trail by lining up flat plates or tiles across the baseplate to form a path.

Step 9

Add bushes rocks and a pond by placing extra plant pieces round tiles and blue tiles where you like.

Step 10

Place minifigures signs or little benches to give your forest more story and play ideas.

Step 11

Gently press each tree and animal to see if any pieces wobble.

Step 12

Reconnect any loose pieces by clicking them firmly together so everything is secure.

Step 13

Share your finished LEGO forest on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a LEGO baseplate or enough leaf pieces?

If you don't have a LEGO baseplate, use a large sturdy cardboard or tray as the flat workspace and anchor plates to it, and if leaf or plant pieces are missing, substitute green 1x1 round plates or paper leaves on studs for the canopy while still marking tree spots with single flat tiles as in step 2.

My trees wobble or pieces keep falling off—how do I fix them?

If a tree wobbles when you 'gently press each tree' in step 11, widen the trunk base with extra brown or tan bricks, attach leaves to multiple studs for a secure canopy, and 'reconnect any loose pieces' by clicking them firmly together as in step 12.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger children, replace small bricks and fragile leaf pieces with larger Duplo or big bricks and pre-made animal pieces and let them place the three flat tiles to mark tree locations, while older kids can follow all steps to build varied-height trunks, design the winding trail with plates, craft tiny LEGO animals, and add detailed ponds with blue tiles.

What are some fun ways to extend or personalize our LEGO forest?

To enhance and personalize your forest, add a tiny LEGO cottage or lookout near the pond using extra bricks, swap in red or orange tiles for seasonal foliage, place a lamppost or moving bench along the winding trail, and photograph the scene to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to build a LEGO forest

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Tutorial: How to Make LEGO Trees

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Facts about building with LEGO and basic engineering

🐾 Forests are home to most terrestrial biodiversity — around 80% of land-based species rely on forest habitats.

🌲 Forests cover roughly 31% of Earth's land area, so your baseplate can be a tiny snapshot of a big biome.

🎨 LEGO has produced over 60 official colors during its history, so you can mix leaves, animals, and trails in many shades.

🧱 LEGO makes over 36 billion elements every year — that's enough bricks to give dozens to every person on Earth!

🌳 Scientists estimate there are about 60,000 species of trees worldwide — perfect inspiration for unique LEGO tree designs.

How do I build a LEGO forest on a baseplate?

Start by placing a baseplate as your forest floor. Sort bricks by color and shape, and gather plant and leaf pieces. Build tree trunks from stacked bricks, then attach plant pieces or foliage plates for canopies. Create animals with small bricks or minifig accessories. Carve trails with flat tiles and add rocks, ponds, or clearings. Encourage testing stability, rearranging elements, and storytelling to extend play and engineering exploration.

What materials do I need to build a LEGO forest?

You’ll need at least one baseplate, assorted LEGO bricks in various sizes and colors, and plant or leaf elements for tree canopies. Add minifigures, small animal pieces, flat tiles for paths, and small plates for ponds. Optional supplies: sorting trays, a small tool for separating bricks, masking tape to secure the baseplate, and extra plates for terrain. Use any compatible building sets to expand the forest.

What ages is building a LEGO forest suitable for?

This activity suits kids roughly ages 4 and up. Simple building and play with large bricks work well for 4–6-year-olds with supervision. Ages 6–9 can design more detailed trees, animals, and trails independently. Tweens enjoy engineering challenges—stable trunks, bridges, and layered terrain. For children under 3, avoid small pieces due to choking hazards. Adjust complexity, tools, and supervision based on your child's motor skills and experience.

What are the benefits of building a LEGO forest?

Building a LEGO forest supports fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and basic engineering concepts like balance and stability. It fosters creativity, storytelling, and planning when designing habitats and trails. Cooperative builds encourage communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Rebuilding different layouts teaches iteration and persistence. This open-ended play also boosts focus and confidence as children complete structures and test ideas in a hands-on, low-pressure environment.
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