I have a nearly-perfect/ideal-for-this tree limb (Oak) that I want to hang/suspend the swing from. But I want to avoid damaging/injuring the tree limb and not have to re-do how it is secured. Previously when my kids were younger, they had tire-swings from other Oak tree limbs, but they were done with rope tied around the limb and the other end the tire. The rope inevitably cuts into the limb and while the tree continues to grow, albeit slowly, begins to grow around the rope. I want to avoid that method for suspending this swing but I want/need the swing to be functional nonetheless.

How can I go about suspending this swing from that tree limb without causing damage or injury, or having to re-do it every year? (because it won't be very long before I'm not able to get up high enough to the limb to re-do it).

I'm at a loss for ideas. I thought about a wide strip of leather for each side, eyelets, and connecting the chain through/to that - but I've since nixed the notion because while swinging, the leather would slide and/or wear against the bark, the connecting points in the holes, reinforced with eyelets or not, would no doubt weaken and eventually stretch or strip out (because of exposure to rain alone). I thought about drilling holes through the limb if I could find a bolt long enough to go through with a loop or ring at one end - but in drilling, again, damage and no doubt worse than "strangling" a limb with a rope.

I figure I'm standing too close to "the problem" and there's a tree-friendly solution to my dilemma. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!