Garden Play Area

[bobski1]

Recently inherited a wooden climbing frame from a friend and for the time being it is just plonked in the middle of the garden. Need to create a proper area for it and the swing. I have a plan but would be useful to get some feedback from those who have done this before


1) Mark out the area - most likely a rectangle to keep it simple
2) Dig down approx 30cm - is this enough or too much?
3) Lay down some weed membrane, securing with pegs
4) Fit edging border - not sure what is best was thinking some wooden sleepers or a log type rounded sleeper?
5) Fill with bark
6) Move climbing frame in

I have seen other blogs where people have placed down some sand before or after the membrane just to provide some drainage and a level area, unsure if that is required?

anything else I might have missed off?

[Vincecj]

We use to install climbing frames. Depending on the type of frame, concrete the legs in first. Have you considered rubber crumb, rather than bark?

[dhutch]

Vincecj said:

Have you considered rubber crumb, rather than bark?

Or grass/dirt?

[curvature]

Bark can make a wonderful cat toilet so be careful, not sure about the rubber.

Years ago we took out some grass and replaced with shrubs and bark and the first summer was awful as the cats really took a shine to it. Once the shrubs got established the problem disappeared.

[Simon_GH]

I’d just place it on grass. It’s a good lesson being careful when the kids are playing in nature. Bark can be a bit sharp and scratchy plus of cats use it as a toilet then you’ll soon get frustrated.

[pidsy]

Every fox and cat will use bark as a toilet.

It’ll need turning over and topping up every spring too. Rubber crumb is the way to go - just do it in the necessary areas if cost is an issue.

[bobski1]

Vincecj said:

We use to install climbing frames. Depending on the type of frame, concrete the legs in first. Have you considered rubber crumb, rather than bark?

Erm, its nothing to this level of frame, its just a basic wooden frame with slide and a rock climbing wall

dhutch said:

Or grass/dirt?

Grass is okay but I'd rather have a dedicated space, makes maintaining the area easier, is that okay with you?

[ewanjp]

Not the OP but I'd assumed rubber chip suffered the same cat poo issues as sand / bark - is that not the case?

[Mont Blanc]

bobski1 said:

dhutch said:

Or grass/dirt?

Grass is okay but I'd rather have a dedicated space, makes maintaining the area easier, is that okay with you?

Yes, but as everyone has pointed out, if you dig out an area and fill with sand or bark clippings, it will quickly fill with cat st and possibly fox st, depending where you live.

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you the dangers of Toxoplasmosis in young children.

Ideally you will fill it with rubber crumb, which can get really expensive. Around £45-50 per 25kg bag.

Or do what I did, and fit artificial turf under the play area. It means they can continue playing even on wet ground and not churn up the grass and get themselves all muddy.

[Mont Blanc]

ewanjp said:

Not the OP but I'd assumed rubber chip suffered the same cat poo issues as sand / bark - is that not the case?

No. Cats and other animals are aware it is not a natural or organic compound, and that puts them off using it (The rubber/chemical smell is very strong to them). Only rarely will an animal attempt to poo in a material such as rubber crumb.

[ewanjp]

Mont Blanc said:

No. Cats and other animals are aware it is not a natural or organic compound, and that puts them off using it (The rubber/chemical smell is very strong to them). Only rarely will an animal attempt to poo in a material such as rubber crumb.

Ah now that is interesting! Thanks!

[DonkeyApple]

bobski1 said:

Recently inherited a wooden climbing frame from a friend and for the time being it is just plonked in the middle of the garden. Need to create a proper area for it and the swing. I have a plan but would be useful to get some feedback from those who have done this before


1) Mark out the area - most likely a rectangle to keep it simple
2) Dig down approx 30cm - is this enough or too much?
3) Lay down some weed membrane, securing with pegs
4) Fit edging border - not sure what is best was thinking some wooden sleepers or a log type rounded sleeper?
5) Fill with bark
6) Move climbing frame in

I have seen other blogs where people have placed down some sand before or after the membrane just to provide some drainage and a level area, unsure if that is required?

anything else I might have missed off?

If the core objective is to have a designated 'area' to comply with perfectly logical and basic OCD regulations then I would mark out an area according to standard, softwood sleeper sizes and dig out a perimeter that you level with sand and cement mix and lay the sleepers flush to the lawn. Then dig out the inside area a couple of inches, lay proper heavy duty membrane and fill with rubber chippings. Also worth considering whether the spoil can be used to create a small bank for children to incorporate into play as completely flat gardens are pretty boring. By the time the children are grown up the cheap sleepers will be well rotted underneath and the saved spoil can refill back from whence it came.

[Mont Blanc]

ewanjp said:

Mont Blanc said:

No. Cats and other animals are aware it is not a natural or organic compound, and that puts them off using it (The rubber/chemical smell is very strong to them). Only rarely will an animal attempt to poo in a material such as rubber crumb.

Ah now that is interesting! Thanks!

No problem.

Cats will always prefer a natural substance to dig in. Sand, soil, grass, leaves, bark, etc.

Cat litter is (mostly) made from a mix of clay and sand, both natural materials, and fine enough in cat litter form to be attractive to dig into.

[Chrisgr31]

Of course if the play area has a swing the surround has to be vast as the kids will swing then jump off. Given half a chance they hit the edge of your soft play area and whatever has been put to create the edge. Used bark on ours as the dog kept foxes and cats away and the dog didnt go in the area at all however it does need regular replenishment.

I do wonder how many actually fall off. I was always worried about our daughter or any of her friends falling off and they never did. Now she is an adult I have reduced the apparatus in size and kept the 2 swings, and taken out the bark as adults dont need it!

As someone as said unless you keep the soil when you dig it out you'll need to buy soil when the play area is no longer needed.

[drgoatboy]

Personally we avoid bark and rubber crumb. It gets everywhere and cats will use rubber crumb as a toilet too. Maybe not as much but they definitely do.
You also run the risk of picking rub chunks out of your lawn, beds forever more.

We got some rubber mating the type the grass grows through. Not as expensive as you might think, last for ever and leave the grassa bit longer you can hardly see it. Only down side is it's impossible to get the moss up if it takes hold instead of the grass

[Evanivitch]

Just stick AstroTurf down if you're even thinking of rubber crumb. The latter is an environmental disaster and even you will get fed up of finding it all around the house during the summer.

[Phunk]

Look up ‘rubber playground tiles’.

We have these under and around our climbing frame, nice and squishy plus stops the place going all muddy.

[Murph7355]

We've had ours up for 10yrs and just put it on grass. You can mark out the area if desired...we just use the mower like we do for the rest.

Anything loose will spread quickly and end up with various animal ste in it.