What’s the best wooden play equipment for kids?

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The longer days of summer are fast approaching – and with brighter and warmer weather, there’s no better time for kids to spend their days outside in the fresh air. Unfortunately, modern life means many kids spend too much time in front of screens, from computers and TVs to mobile phones and tablets. So, if you want your kids to get outdoors and benefit from physical exercise this summer, you’ll need something that motivates them to play in the garden.

There are lots of things children can do to entertain themselves and burn off energy outside, but what better way to get kids active and inspire their imaginations than installing wooden outdoor play equipment?

Read on to learn about wooden play equipment for children and which types you can choose from to bring more fun to your back garden.

How to Utilise Your Garden as a Homeowner

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Are you a homeowner who never makes use of their garden? Or perhaps you want to utilise the space a little better to get better use from it? Having a good garden is such a great thing to have as a part of your home and you should take advantage of it! Having a garden is something unique and in some places even a luxury!. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden or a private outdoor space of their own. This is why it is so important to really utilise and use the space if you can, whether it's raining or sunny, you can use your garden in any weather with the right advice and work to make the garden a fun space for the whole family

It is great to make the garden an extension of your home. It helps you spend more time out there and make better use of the space. Using this guide, you can discover the best ways to make better use of your garden at home.

6 Reasons You Should Add a Deck to Your Outdoor Living Space in 2024

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A deck can improve the aesthetics and functionality of your outdoor space, particularly if you like to spend time outside. Regardless of the design of your home, decking boards are available today in numerous styles and designs. You won’t have a problem finding the one that suits your home's aesthetics.  

Here are some reasons why you should add a deck to your outdoor living space this year:  

Enhancing Curb Appeal: Tips for Maintaining Aesthetically Pleasing Gutters

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Gutters play a crucial role in preserving the structural integrity of a building, and their aesthetic appeal is equally important in enhancing the overall look of a property. Maintaining aesthetically pleasing gutters not only adds to the curb appeal of a home but also ensures proper drainage and prevents potential damage. 

In this article, we will explore various tips for maintaining and enhancing the visual appeal of your gutters, ensuring they remain both functional and attractive.

Lawn and Garden Magic: Home Improvement for a Flourishing Outdoor Space

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AD: Welcome to the world of outdoor beauty - where a well-maintained lawn and a vibrant garden are embellishments and reflections of your style. This guide aims to inspire you with ideas and practical tips to transform your exterior spaces into enchanting green havens. 

Whether you're an experienced gardener or a novice, rest assured that with the right methods, a dash of patience, and a sprinkle of creativity, you can create your slice of paradise right in the comfort of your home. 

The Power of Light: Outdoor Lighting's Impact on Home Improvement

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AD: Outdoor lighting, while often overlooked, holds a significant impact on home improvement. This is not just about visibility at night but the value it adds to a property. Whether it's increasing the aesthetics of a home, enhancing security, or simply setting the mood for an evening gathering, outdoor lighting can dramatically transform a home's exterior. 

This article will explore the power of light and its undeniable influence on home improvement.

How To Make Your Garden An Extension Of Your Home

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AD: We all wish we had more space at home. Whether you’re making the most of a small garden space or a large one, you can always use your outdoor space as an extension of your interior. You don’t even have to be an avid gardener to make your green space more cosy and inviting. This article will help you utilise your garden space and unify it with your living quarters.

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Make The Most Of Hedging

Hedging can help you create the illusion of privacy and separate spaces in your garden. Plants like the portuguese laurel can grow up to 12 metres tall, so can be used to create more solitude and peace in gardens with low fences. It lasts all year round which helps maintain a consistent style in your garden.

Could Growing Your Own be the Way to go?

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AD: It is no secret that right now money is tight for a lot of us, we are always looking at ways to cut costs, spend less, and get more for our money but in the current climate that's proving to be pretty difficult. Especially when prices are going up on everyday things we purchase such as the food shop! But have you ever considered growing your own food? Even if you only have a small garden space you could still be utilising it to grow your own vegetables and fruits and in the long run, save yourself money! You can even make a start right now since you can even pick up some vegetable seeds online! 

That is why I have teamed up with Beetham Nurseries to talk to you all about the benefits of growing your own fruit and veg as well as look at just what you could be growing and enjoying all from your own garden with a little help from their amazing range of plants and seeds. 

Ways to Enhance the Garden Atmosphere

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AD: Having a beautiful garden is such a blessing especially when the weather starts getting warm and you can enjoy more and more things outside like parks, picnics and time in your own garden. It has the ability to enhance your mood, to give you a space to contemplate away from the world, it can reduce stress and anxiety, give the kids a safe place to play, it can be a nice place to invite your guests to, as well as a lot more. However, creating and maintaining a garden like this is no easy feat. It can take a lot of hard work and dedication. But a beautiful garden can act as another room and even increase the value of your home.

So, with all that in mind, below we have come up with a few ideas to help you enhance the atmosphere of your garden and have it ready for you to enjoy all year round.

Enhance Your Outdoor Space with These Top Ideas

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AD: Having your own garden is such a great bonus, especially in the summer time when it means you have your own private outdoor area to enjoy. However, have you even wondered if you are making the most of your garden or if there might be ways to enhance your home’s outdoor space? Then keep reading below.

Not only will upgrading your garden likely have a very positive impact on your lifestyle, it can also add value to your home in the long run as well. If you want to make the most out of the space you have, then this is the guide for you.

7 Unique Ways to Use Astroturf in your Home and Garden

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Perhaps you have admired a neighbours house, balcony, or a sports stadiums spread of grass and wondered just how they get their lawn/grass looking so fresh and vibrant all year round and achieve the garden of your dreams too? Well the chances are it is some kind of artificial grass. Artificial grass has been gaining momentum and popularity in recent years as more people are moving to artificial turf from real grass and not just for their garden spaces either. People are now realising the many uses of artificial grass and it is becoming a popular part of the interior design too. 

Artificial turf is made of synthetic fibre that imitate grass. It is available in many different colours, textures and even grass lengths from completely natural looking grass to something a little more eye catching. It is also perfect for family homes because it doesn't get muddy and can be used all year round. So whether you are wanting to place a sand bit for the kids or a hammock with stand for relaxing in the sun, you can place it on artificial turf all year long. Recently, homeowners have begun using it at home as it is eco-friendly, flexible, and affordable too. Below are 7 ways in which you could incorporate artificial grass into your home and garden.

Creating A Family Garden You Can Use All Year Round

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During the summer many of us spend lots of time in our gardens, soaking up the sunshine, watching the kids play, enjoy delicious barbeques and relaxing in hammocks. However when the colder weather creeps in our garden seems to become a little abandoned and unused which I think is a huge shame. Our gardens are a large part of our homes and whilst the sun might not always be shining, that doesn't mean you can't make the most of your garden all year round! 

There are so many ways in which we can utilise our garden spaces, offering more usable space in your home as well as making your garden space accessible all year round. Below I am sharing with you a few ways in which you can transform your garden into a space you and your family can use all year round. 

Garden Adventures with HiPP Organic.

Both Evelyn and James love being outdoors which is great as I love knowing they are enjoying themselves outdoors rather than being stuck indoors watching TV missing out on all the adventures to be had. I am always trying to keep the garden fun and engaging so they don't get bored. Its easy to forget that for our children so many things are new and exciting and I love watching them discovering the world at their own pace. 

So when the lovely people over at HiPP asked us to become HiPP Explorers and share our adventures we were very excited! HiPP Organic’s product vast range has more than 120 products, covering every stage of weaning including pouches, jars, tray meals, cereals & fruit pots. They are also perfect for enjoying outdoors!

      When it comes to lunch/dinner time getting Evelyn in from the garden is often a struggle. HiPP have that covered though with their heart shaped tray microwavable meals that can easily be enjoyed alfresco if needed. Don't be put off by the fact these are microwavable though as HiPP Organic are passionate about providing the best possible quality food for all babies and young children meaning these meals are not only delicious but nutritional too. One of Evelyn's favourite meals is Pasta and with HiPP being the only brand to offer pasta shapes in their meals including zoo animals, alphabet letters and numbers I knew these would be a bit hit with her and I wasn't wrong. 

HiPP Organic understand the moments that matter to mums like being able to get outdoors and having fun in the garden. So our HiPP Explorer challenge this month has been all about getting in the garden and the kids have loved it. There are so many things you can do in your garden whether its getting out a paddling pool and enjoying a splash, hunting bugs and insects, eating lunch outdoors (even in a toadstool tent like Evelyn!). You could also take the opportunity of having some garden space to plant your own fruit/veg or flowers. We used this mini veg patch planting kit for the kids to plant some of their own seeds and grow their own veg, they are so excited to watch it grow. This is also a great opportinity to teach your child about planting, watering and caring for plants and also about how veg is grown. 

Getting outdoors is all about exploring the world around for us, its about feeling the grass on our toes and the sun on our skin! 

Family beliefs and values embody the HiPP Organic brand, who are instinctively organic and have been for over 60 years providing the best products in their meals for your little ones.  HiPP believe in organic for a better legacy, using farming techniques that leave the soil full of nutrients for the next generation.

If your children enjoy being outdoors too why not give alfresco dining a go with some of the delicious HiPP Organic meals. 

xXx

**I was not paid for this post, I was sent this item and we used the item to produce this honest review and post. 
All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and written by me. **

Little Tikes spinning seas water table **REVIEW**

As summer fast approaches my mind has turned to getting the garden ready for the summer. Both James and Evelyn love being out in the garden and now that Evelyn is a little older this year and can really get around outside and enjoy it, I wanted to make sure they had plenty to play with.

So, when the lovely people at Little Tikes offered us a Spinning Sea's water table to try out, we couldn't wait for it to arrive. If the splashing, they do in the bath is anything to go by I knew it would be a big hit!

When the spinning sea's water table arrived, it came in several pieces with clear to follow picture/text instructions. It's pretty simple to put together though with most pieces just clicking into place and only a few screws needed to hold together the centre column, then it was ready for the kids to play.

The water table is made of sturdy plastic with a smooth finish and chunky plastic legs which provide a stable surface and the perfect height for little people to play. When built the water table stands at approx. 17 inches tall which is a perfect height for Evelyn who is 2, she found it easy to reach all the bits within the table without struggle or having to lean over or stretch too much.

The bright colours on the table make it eye catching and it looks great in the garden! It comes with plenty of accessories including the centre column with a large basin on top which leads to 2 windmill style spinners, simply throw the ball in the top and see where it lands! There is also a catapult to spring the balls into the water table and a Ferris wheel style ball catcher that can be spun around.

The Spinning Sea's water table has already provided hours of fun for James and Evelyn, and I know it will be getting lots of use for summers to come. The water table is well built, sturdy and really built to last even against boisterous toddler play as would be expected from a fantastic brand like Little Tikes.

If you are looking for something for your garden this year, I would highly recommend the spinning sea's water table as it provides hours of fun and doesn't take up a huge amount of space (especially important if you have a smaller garden like us). My children are aged 2 and 6 and both enjoyed splashing around in it.

The Little Tikes spinning seas water table is priced at around £49.99 and is available to purchase from lots of stores including Argos, Amazon and The Toy Shop,

Do your children love being in the garden? What is their favourite outdoor toy?

xXx


**I was not paid for this post, I was sent this item and we used the item to produce this honest review. 
All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and written by me. **

Wickey Sandpit **REVIEW**

As the weather has begun to warm up my attention has turned to sorting out the garden and making it child friendly for summer.

We don't have a massive garden and space is quite limited but I still want it to be a place where both children can play safely when they please and so I started looking for garden toys! We already have a wave slide and some miniature football goals for James but I wanted something both James and Evelyn could play with together.

That's when I found Wickey, they have some very impressive wooden climbing frames that look like so much fun however they are much to large for our garden and Evelyn especially is still a little to young for a climbing frame. However Wickey also sell these beautifully made solid wood sandpits perfect for what we needed!

Wickey very kindly sent us one of their 'Flip' sandpits to try out and I have to say we are all really impressed. The 'Flip' sandpit comes in two sizes either 110cmx125cm or 120cmx125cm, we received the smaller version which fit in with our garden well, as well as this we received the safe sand foil to ensure no bugs or roots got in to our sandpit from underneath. We would later realise this is essential as the sandpit itself has no bottom!

One of the great features of the 'Flip' sandpit is that not only is it made from strong, sturdy and treated wood the lid of the sandpit also folds up to create 2 small benches, one either side of the sandpit perfect for little bums to perch whilst playing.

The 'Flip' sandpit comes flat packed and needs to be assembled from almost from scratch. This does require at least two people to built, the instructions are pretty clear and easy to follow although I would always suggest a quick read through before starting anything as some of the instructions and measurements are quite precise. The sandpit took around 2 hours to build with 2 people building it. You will require a drill to construct the sandpit as you need to drill pilot holes yourself which we were a little surprised at and it did mean it took a little longer to build the sandpit.

The 'Flip' sandpit has been a huge hit with both James and Evelyn! They have thoroughly enjoyed building sandcastle's and shapes in the sand. The benches provided a comfy place for both of them to sit and dip their toys in the sand or for a bit of a rest with an ice lolly after all that building. The sandpit took approx 10 15kg bags of sand to fill to a reasonable level which provided more than enough sand to build with.

The sandpit feels like it is build to last and is composed of green KDI impregnated treated wood meaning it requires no extra coats of paint or varnish and is build to with stand even the toughest of weather conditions. I did find that the slats in the top cover of the sandpit still had small gaps in and therefore the sandpit did require a waterproof sheet on top to keep the sand completely dry. 

Over all we were thoroughly impressed with the flip sandpit. Despite some niggly issues such as the pilot holes needing to be drilled yourself and the top being a little gappy we all think the sandpit is a great addition to our garden. It definitely has already provided hours of entertainment for the children (especially as Evelyn's birthday party!) and it certainly feels built to last!

Fancy sprucing up your garden for summer? Why not check out some of the high quality garden items such as swing sets, slides and play houses as well as the items mentioned above from Wickey via their website here - www.wickey.com.

What is your child's favourite garden toy/ item?

xXx

* I was not paid for this review. All opinions given are my own.

* If you would like me to review your product or service, please email me on xJessLegresleyx@hotmail.com.