Buying timber and wooden playground equipment is a great choice. It not only looks, and feels, natural but can also bring engagement and excitement to any playground space. However, if you’re not used to working with timber and wooden playground equipment then the process of buying can feel a little intimidating – so this is what you need to consider when you approach it.

Who are the users?

One of the key questions when you’re buying timber and wooden playground equipment is who is going to use it. How old are the children using the playground likely to be – what’s the age range – and what kind of abilities are they going to have. For example, if you’re looking at equipment for younger age groups then it will be key to pick timber and wooden pieces that offer accessibility. If it’s older age groups with climbing, sliding etc skills then it might be more about variety. Timber and wooden equipment is incredibly versatile and there are options for all needs and age ranges, from mud kitchens through to climbing structures.

What space will accommodate the equipment?

Key to this will be the amount of space that you have available – is there room for a giant play fort, for example, or do you need to pick a much smaller piece? Bear in mind that every piece of equipment will also need to have plenty of space around it in order to be safe so it’s important not to fill a playground area too full. Often, this is simply a case of looking at the available room and making some smart choices around it. More modest pieces can leave more options for variety. Or perhaps, resurfacing an area with wet pour or bark could provide more scope for other pieces of equipment in spaces that are currently going unused. When you work with what you’ve got there are always solutions available that will suit any need because timber and wooden playground equipment is so versatile.

How far will the budget go?

One of the most important elements to consider here is whether the budget you have also covers installation, as well as the cost of the equipment itself. Safe installation is vital to being able to use timber and wooden playground equipment, so it’s important to bear that in mind. Some organisations opt to install equipment using an internal team and this can be an effective way to save money. However, it shouldn’t come at a cost to safety standards. While big budgets can be used to create a sizable area of imaginative and creative space, smaller budgets can still produce great results. That could be smart choices of interactive equipment, activity panels and playground markings that help to make the most of ground space at a much lower cost.

Timber and wooden playground equipment represents a great choice for any space, whether urban or rural. When it comes to the choices you make around this type of equipment these are the key questions to bear in mind.