Children’s gardens
How many of your childhood memories are based around fun in the garden? We spend so much time in the al fresco extension to the house - it’s important that it’s a space that all the family can enjoy.
When it comes to gardens, minimal space is needed to allow the kids an area to make mud pies or daisy chains. The good news is that a family garden doesn’t have to be a playpark full of garish colourful plastic monstrosities, and a battered old lawn that’s seen one too many wannabe Beckhams. Here’s our guide to creating a space where they can play, explore and learn in a safe environment.
The primary concern is that of safety. You’ll never be able to relax and enjoy the garden if you’re constantly keeping an eye out for what the kids are up to.
Water in vast quantities is a no-no. In the TD area, that definitely includes the river. Put a safety grid over a pond or water butt.
Fences, hedges and gates will help keep everyone from wandering off into the road etc
In terms of accident prevention, there are some excellent products on the market to prevent injuries. Whether it’s soft astro turf, or “bouncy” tarmac, these things can save on tears / plasters.
And the final one is hazardous plants – there are many that are dangerous if they’re ingested or come into contact with the skin
Then there’s the play equipment, which can seriously jar with any attempt to create a beautiful tranquil garden. But there are some very stylish natural timber variants on the market, allowing you to have the full climbing frame, monkey bars and swing combination without being an eyesore.
Another option is out-houses. You could perhaps build a tree house, which can be easily crafted by using planks of wood crafted into established mature trees. With Wendy houses, there’s no need to fork out, as a simple shed with a lick of paint can suffice. And it won’t be wasted money, because with a bit of a makeover it can then be an excellent teenager’s den a few years later (think: loud music at the end of the garden!)
The final component you may want to factor in is education - gardens are a great venue for children to learn about nature. Perhaps create a small pond, where they can learn about frogs and tadpoles etc? Or a vegetable patch or herb garden to teach them all about sustainability, photosynthesis and to understand that carrots needn’t come in a plastic bag with a price tag.
Looking to make some changes to your garden? Get in touch via the details below…..