Creating a safe play area for children.

I was recently asked by  friends to create an area where their children could use their slides and swings safely. At the time of asking the equipment was situated on their driveway in front of their garage. Although the garage was no longer used to house any cars it was still used for tools and household items, therefore having the playground equipment in front of it caused more problems. In addition to this the children's stuff was on concrete, which had no soft surface under it. So you can understand their concern especially as the youngest child was only 18 months old. The garden consisted of a patio area where the adults had a table and chairs. There was also a lawn, which was surrounded with borders consisting of shrubs and plants. Right at the end of the garden  was an overgrown area, which originally had a greenhouse on it, but had since been dismantled and thrown away. My friends had thought of turning it into another seating area but decided against this in favour of a childrens play site. My first task was to clear the site, which measured 4m x 2m of grass, weeds, wild shrubs, nettles and worst of all dog dirt. Yes, the owners thought it a good idea to let their big, overweight hound  defecate everywhere. Not a pleasant task at all, but to do a good job needs good preparation. I tend to put on a pair of latex gloves first, then some rigger gloves over them for added protection. More importantly with jobs like this you need to wear safety goggles, because you will be surprised how many times soil is thrown up into your face when working in the garden. Soil carries its own infections, even more so when accompanied by what animals have left behind, so self preservation is paramount. I must admit since I agreed to carry out the work I did have second thoughts about doing it, especially with the country experiencing the worst winter for 30 odd years. One minute the ground was soaking wet due to heavy rain, next it would be frozen solid or covered in deep snow. Oh the joys of outside winter working. These conditions forced me to delay and at times postpone the work I had planned. So I was always on the phone to them either comfirming I was coming or not. What complicated this even more was the fact that my friends had some side gates installed, which they insisted on locking all the time, so I had to ensure they left it unlocked for me. I eventually cleared the site after several days and trips to the local municipal tip, which is another story in itself and one that I will write about at another time. I also cleared a pathway through the borders, so that the adults could keep an eye on their siblings from a safe distance. The next task was to flatten the surface down and lay strong plastic sheeting down called "Visqueen" over it. Visqueen is used by builders as a waterproof barrier and  comes in rolls that are 4mtrs wide. Next, I laid down 4 rubber multi-purpose endurance mats measuring 1.5m x 1m, which acts as a safety surface, so preventing the children injuring themselves should they fall. These can be obtained on-line from http://www.endurancemats.com/ at a cost of £19.99 each post free. For extra safety I surrounded the outer edge of the matting with garden bark. I laid 4 x flags on the path to the play area and finished it off with pea shingle. My final job was to transfer the children's platform and slide together with their table and chairs to the new play area. So despite my reservations, delays and difficulties I was very happy with the end result, as were my friends. My only concern was that they would continue to let their dog use the site as a toilet, but I have received assurances from them that they will find an alternative. Only time will tell? At least I have done my bit.