Children's play area or Garden?

Why is it when children arrive in a family, the garden is given over totally to the kids and becomes a play zone. All planting is removed to give more lawn area with the misguided idea that this is what children want and need. It is then filled with plastic toys and slides to entertain the kids. There are three issues with this concept.

Firstly, although removing all the planting will give more lawn space, it will not make the garden feel any bigger. If you have a small garden, like the ones new builds have, you will always have a small garden and not a football field. So all you can do is make it feel larger and add more interest for kids and adults alike.

Secondly kids grow up quickly and toys are soon grown out of and need replacing. What is needed is things that can grow with the child. So a pergola can double as a climbing frame and monkey bars for a time, then be used as a covered, secluded place for teenagers to hang out. All whilst giving the adults some vertical space to grow plants.

Finally having only lawn only caters for a small amount of wildlife. We might be aware that bringing more wildlife into our gardens is not only beneficial for the wildlife but will give kids bugs and birds that they can study and keep them fascinated for hours.

In fact with only a little thought the garden space, no matter what the size, can be shared an enjoyed by both adults and children. Giving adults more living space and allowing children and adults to be together in the outside world.

Zoning is the key to doing this. By creating an adult area and a separate area for the children to play in, both parties can enjoy the outside.

The children's area does not need to be lawn only but could be a planted area with wiggly paths running through planting. Children will enjoy running around and hiding in and along these paths and they can double as cycle or scooter tracks.

Paths need not be boring by adding stepping stones adds interest and children can jump from one to another. Having paths in a garden is important as this means wet play will not result in a muddy mess and if paths lead to a secret area, that's is even better.

This area needs to be flexible as children grow up. To begin with it could have a small shed as a Wendy house or a mud kitchen and as they grow out of this it could become a den and then finally a chill out space for teens with bean bags. Adding some kind of shelter makes it even better for use on rainy days.

As we know kids tend to like bugs and introducing a range of plants will attract a myriad of different mini beasts for children to study. The addition of a bug hotel with only assist in the diversity and have a place where the kids can look for them.

Adding water, however small, will bring in the bug life too, although toddlers would need constant supervision. However a pond area could start off as a sand pit and then transform into the pond at a later date. If you like a more contemporary look then a shallow rill would not only be beneficial for wildlife but children could paddle in it and lets be honest, kids love mucking about in water.

Flexibility is the key, areas need to be able to change and be designed with change in mind. That is what Wellbelove Garden Design can do for you, create a flexible and family friendly garden that can be enjoyed by all the family and look beautiful. wellbelovegardendesign@gmail.com