Play areas; for the children, it’s a place of fun and adventure where anything is possible.

For the parents, there are the possibilities of scraped knees and bumped heads to contend with and safety will always be at the forefront of their minds.

Whether the play area in question is a public park run by the Council, a school playground or even in the family area of the local pub/restaurant, minimising risk and the safety of the children that will be using it will come first and the floor surface that is used will be chosen with care.

There are a number of things that need to be considered, including;

• Safety
• Durability
• Aesthetics
• Price

With safety being the most important factor in the decision making process, hard surfaces like concrete or packed earth are no longer options, and with 70% of playground accidents resulting from falling, it is vital that the surface is an impact absorbent material, such as pine nuggets or softwood chip.

Critical height is the ‘maximum fall height from which a life-threatening head injury would not be expected to occur’ and will need to be considered when applying a floor surface to the play area.

When using wood chips or wood mulch, to protect from a 1.6m drop, you would need an uncompressed depth layer of 100mm to absorb the energy of the fall.

It is also important that the play area looks good and fits in with the surrounding areas aesthetics. Wood chip or bark add a more natural, earthly feel to a play area as well as being safe and durable against weather conditions, and they do not become slippery underfoot unlike some rubber alternatives.

TMA Bark’s Play Range bark comes in various materials and price scales, our products being sourced from sustainable sources with Certificates of Test available to view on our website, so you can buy with confidence.

We range from high quality pine nuggets, right through to the more economical range of softwood and hardwood chips, meaning no matter what your project budget is, we have a playground surface solution for you.

Contact us today to discuss the best wood chip solution for your project on 01362 638441

In the World of gardening, mulch is a pretty big deal. Not only does it improve the quality of your soil and protect from weed growth, it also helps make your garden look neat and natural, as well as protecting the roots of your plants through winter months.

But what is mulch exactly? Mulch is available as either organic or non-organic. Organic mulch is made up of a mixture of living material such as;

• Chopped Leaves
• Straw
• Grass Cuttings
• Compost
• Wood Chips
• Chipped Bark
• Sawdust
• Pine Needles

Non-organic mulch can include gravel, stones, black plastic and geotextiles (landscape fabrics).

Whether you choose organic or non-organic, your mulch will perform in much the same way, and can be used universally, whether you are growing vegetables, or prize winning roses. It is considered one of the best time saving measures a gardener can take because;

• Mulch helps to retain water in the soil during warmer months
• It discourages weeds from growing
• Organic mulch improves the quality of your soil as it decomposes
• Can help deter pests
• Helps to protect roots from temperature changes
• Stops edible crops from coming into contact with soil
• Provides a natural finish to your garden

When using mulch to stop weed growth, there are two rules of thumb; make sure the area you want to lay mulch on has already been thoroughly weeded and ensure that you put down a nice thick layer, roughly 4-6 inch in troublesome areas and 2-3 inch in more shady areas to ensure that weeds cannot push through.
Mulch should be applied to your garden ideally from mid to late spring, when the soil is moist and warm.

Call today to order your mulch or to discuss your specific needs on 01362 638441