Hi Anya,
By arboreal, do you mean that ball pythons typically "live in the trees" in the wild. Then, no, of course not.
On the other hand, they definitely climb and explore their surroundings when they feel it is safe to do so. I remember a large exhibit at one of the Ohio zoos, I think Columbus, where they had a T-style perch set totally out in the open, with the horizontal part maybe four feet off the ground. Perfectly folded half and half over the horizontal part looking for all the world like a green tree python or emerald boa was a big ball python. The keepers may well have positioned a heat lamp directly over the perch; I can't remember, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the primary reason that the snake chose that particular place to hang out, seemingly unconcerned with all the people peering in.
Whether your driftwood branches are big enough, or feel secure enough (don't move around), or fill all the environmental needs that your python has remains to be seen. Give it a try and see!
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