Making a garden work for young children

Gardens for Families With Young Children

A family garden has to be safe, hard-wearing and — importantly — still somewhere the adults want to sit. Gardens designed entirely around play equipment stop working once the children grow.

Designing for both from the start avoids rebuilding in five years.

Artificial Grass work by Gardenscape in Essex

Safety and surfaces

Level, non-slip surfaces near the house, and a soft, all-weather surface where children play. Artificial grass over a free-draining base keeps play areas usable through winter and stays mud-free.

Where equipment has a fall height, an appropriate shock-absorbing layer should be specified beneath.

Sightlines and boundaries

Play areas visible from the kitchen window get used and supervised. Secure boundaries and gates matter more than any other single feature for young children.

Ponds and steep level changes need particular thought at this stage of family life.

Designing for later

Trampolines and playhouses are temporary. Placing them on a surface that will still make sense afterwards — rather than a custom pit — means the garden adapts as children grow.

Keeping a proper adult seating area separate keeps the garden usable for everyone.

Frequently asked questions

Is artificial grass safe for children?

Yes, and with a shock pad beneath play equipment it also handles fall heights.

Where should a trampoline go?

On a level, free-draining surface within sight of the house, clear of boundaries and hard edges.

Family garden that survives?

We build tough, safe gardens that still look good.

Book a family garden quote Call 07535 661664