Soft Surfaces and Surfacing Options for Playgrounds

Grass matting serves as a natural, visually appealing safety surface that enhances the green aesthetic of play areas. This eco-friendly choice provides a soft, secure surface, blending the appeal of grass with added protection for children. By integrating grass matting with natural turf, we create a playground surfacing solution that’s both harmonious and sustainable, meeting the growing demand for environmentally conscious play spaces.

This option minimises the need for extensive ground preparation, offering a cost-effective, low-maintenance playground surfacing alternative. It aligns with the vision of creating play areas that harmonise with nature while ensuring a safe environment for children to play and explore.

Grass matting also functions as an effective wear pad around playground equipment, especially in high-traffic zones. It helps protect natural grass from excessive wear, supporting longevity and reducing environmental impact.

For an eco-friendly loose-fill playground surfacing option, Cushionfall is made from seasoned recycled timber, offering a contaminant-free solution. Tested to BS EN 1177 standards, Cushionfall exemplifies our commitment to safe, sustainable soft surfaces for playgrounds, turning recycled materials into an environmentally friendly option.

Play grade bark chippings add a natural, earthy appeal to playground surfacing. While this option requires regular maintenance, it’s ideal for those seeking an aesthetic that blends naturally with the outdoors. Regular raking and topping up ensure a consistently safe and inviting play surface.

Bound rubber mulch stands out as a top-tier safety surfacing option, balancing both safety and aesthetic considerations. Its natural appearance seamlessly integrates with outdoor environments, providing a visually pleasing alternative. This carefully selected option ensures that your play area not only meets safety standards but also maintains a harmonious connection with nature, enhancing the overall appeal and charm of the space.

Wetpour, a versatile and resilient safety surface, is a popular choice for playgrounds that require consistent and reliable protection. Comprising of recycled EPDM rubber granules bound together with a polyurethane resin, wetpour provides a smooth and seamless surface that caters to various play activities. Its impact-absorbing properties make it an ideal option for areas with equipment at varying heights. It also allows for creative designs and colour choices, adding vibrancy and visual appeal to the play area. As a trusted and durable safety surface, wetpour ensures a secure and enjoyable environment for children to play freely while meeting stringent safety standards.

Selecting a bound safety surface, such as wetpour or rubber mulch, incurs a higher cost per square meter due to the preparation and layering process involved. To ensure durability, safety, and an attractive finish, the ground is excavated to the correct depth. Following this, an MOT sub base layer is laid and compacted; next a base layer of rubber crumb is added to provide a stable foundation. Finally, a top layer of finer material is applied, resulting in a seamless and resilient surface. This thorough process ensures the longevity and quality of the play surface, justifying the higher investment for a lasting and visually appealing outcome.

Four Acres offers the choice between a flat-top PCC (Pre-Cast Concrete) edging or chamfered wetpour edging. The flat-top PCC edging offers a clean and defined border, providing a neat finish to the safety surface. Opting for a chamfered wetpour edging introduces a softer and rounded boundary, seamlessly blending with the surrounding environment. Both options are thoughtfully designed to complement the chosen safety surface, adding a finishing touch to the overall look.