Thumper Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Hello I have about 15000.00 to spend on my outdoor area. We were replacing the current safety surface but in wondering as we have a good amount of money if it could be better spent on a complete overhaul of the outdoor area.... We had a new wooden outdoor classroom 2 years ago so don't need that. Any ideas or help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeytg Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Not sure what your outdoor area is like but we had artificial lawn laid and it is the best money we have spent - we have been outside all year round - the field we are adjacent to has been like a bog for weeks on end, yet we have been out every day. (So impressed just had it laid at home as well - no more muddy paw prints!!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperrabbit Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 (edited) Wow Thumper - where did you get the money?? Just to add And I've just been given £50 by my committee for outdoors The decisions we have to make eh?! Edited June 6, 2014 by thumperrabbit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 (edited) Hello I have about 15000.00 to spend on my outdoor area. We were replacing the current safety surface but in wondering as we have a good amount of money if it could be better spent on a complete overhaul of the outdoor area.... We had a new wooden outdoor classroom 2 years ago so don't need that. Any ideas or help? Oh lucky you! :1b I can't make any useful suggestions but would say - don't go for 'bark' - we have use of a play area with bark and it's a complete pain! (the bark that is not the play area!) Edited June 6, 2014 by sunnyday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fimbo Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Wow Thumper - where did you get the money?? Just to add And I've just been given £50 by my committee for outdoors The decisions we have to make eh?! sorry -this made me chuckle !!...dont spend it all at once ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperrabbit Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 sorry -this made me chuckle !!...dont spend it all at once ! Thought I was blessed, until I saw Thumper's dilemma 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Not sure what your outdoor area is like but we had artificial lawn laid and it is the best money we have spent - we have been outside all year round - the field we are adjacent to has been like a bog for weeks on end, yet we have been out every day. (So impressed just had it laid at home as well - no more muddy paw prints!!) We have a mud kitchen and wondered if this would create a slippy area on an artificial lawn? Any advice? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Thanks everyone - I know we are very fortunate this year, but it's money we've saved and fundraised over the past few years, which is one of the reasons I asked for advice, I don't want to blow it on something that's not 100% right! This is our chance to make a huge difference to our outdoor area which at present in just a black safety surface with an out door classroom attached to the back of the building....I am after creating something magical ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargrower Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Well done for all your fundraising! Very unusually, I disagree with Sunnyday on this one! We have just replaced our completely worn out lawn (I use the word 'lawn' very loosely!) with bark and it's wonderful. Having said that it's actually wood chip for children's play areas and is pale wood colour not the dark brown bark you can buy in a garden centre. Our garden was sometimes unusable in wet weather because of mud. Now, the rain drains away through the bark / wood and the top layer dries very quickly. I'd highly recommend. The area we have covered is about 20m x 10m and it cost £1000 to cover to a depth of 10cm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helenee Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 We have just replaced our tree covered, shady mud patch (we have tried lawn for years) with artificial grass, bark and then a stone path. It means we can have a messy area for painting and mud kitchen, a beautiful end of the garden for growing and insects, and then the grass for physical play. The stone path is great for walking on it's just like a beach as we are on a slope. The grass was expensive, but we paid for fitting (if we'd done it ourselves it would have been cheaper) and then got the bark from a DIY store. That saved us loads. (We saved some money last year from our funding for this - we carefully budgeted and savings like not buying so much ink as we use tapestry really helped). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share Posted June 7, 2014 We have just replaced our tree covered, shady mud patch (we have tried lawn for years) with artificial grass, bark and then a stone path. It means we can have a messy area for painting and mud kitchen, a beautiful end of the garden for growing and insects, and then the grass for physical play. The stone path is great for walking on it's just like a beach as we are on a slope. The grass was expensive, but we paid for fitting (if we'd done it ourselves it would have been cheaper) and then got the bark from a DIY store. That saved us loads. (We saved some money last year from our funding for this - we carefully budgeted and savings like not buying so much ink as we use tapestry really helped). This looks fantastic and the sort of thing I'm thinking. Thank you Anything you'd change or of done differently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Very unusually, I disagree with Sunnyday on this one! WHAT - shock horror! Not really - it is allowed you know! Not sure what depth the bark is in the play area we use - probably a bit deeper I think - it gets really horrible in the wet times and has even been known to sprout a few mushrooms! Very slippy when it's 'frosty' and a complete nuisance in the summer if children wear sandals Apart from that it's fine! :blink: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargrower Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Not sure what depth the bark is in the play area we use - probably a bit deeper I think - it gets really horrible in the wet times and has even been known to sprout a few mushrooms! Ewww! Although you could check them out, then go all 'forest school' and make a mushroom omelette over a camp fire! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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