Natural Play Boulders - CED Ltd Natural Stone, Cobbles & Paving

Create a dynamic play scape area with our natural boulders. Using natural boulders for play will both inspire and encourage children to explore the adventurous and curious side of their character.

The early years of childhood play an enormous part in the way children grow and perceive the world around them. To wrap them up in cotton wool and shield them from the rawness of the world may seem like the right thing to do, but children need to have the freedom to learn on their own. They need to know how to risk assess and calculate danger. This is a natural instinct and is not something that is quickly learnt without physical experience. For example, to tell a child not to run on wet ground because if they fall over it will hurt, will probably not be understood or taken on board by the child until they fall over and learn for themselves.

With this in mind we are proud to promote the use of natural boulders in play scape areas. These play items are naturally slip resistant and encourage children to climb and explore, which is something all children love to do. Using these in the correct way will help children to develop and grow and provide a natural beauty to play areas.

When planning a play scape area and to view our products in play areas, we recommend you take guidance from "Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces" as published by Play England and the DCSF. This publication is supported by: Cabe, The National Lottery (the big lottery fund) and National Children"s Bureau and endorsed by Health and Safety Executive and Royal Society for the prevention of Accidents.

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Yorkstone towers are an excellent example of a simple but challenging natural play feature. Yorkstone is slip resistant, very tough, free from sharp edges and able to withstand high levels of use over many years whilst remaining virtually maintenance free.

These climbing towers provide a challenging and enjoyable learning experience. The pieces are placed in a stack to ensure there is a free drop to the ground from each overhang and where appropriate, the landing can be softened using Gravelsafe®.

Safe play with Gravelsafe ®

CED's Gravelsafe ® is the latest innovation in impact absorbing safety surfacing. Unlike typical pea gravels Gravelsafe ® is a well rounded multicoloured granite pebble that has no broken or sharp elements. The natural roundness of this product works almost like a liquid when faced with the impact of an object. The pebbles roll against each other thus creating exceptional impact absorbing properties in situations where children jump or fall from climbable play equipment.

British Standard Compliant

Gravelsafe ® conforms to BS EN 1176 (testing in accordance with BS EN 1177) for intended use as an impact absorbing safety surface.

Natural and Long Lasting

Natural Stone is a pure resource from the earth, the Gravelsafe ® pebbles have been naturally water worn and will have an infinite life blending into the natural landscape.

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Portal Rocks are a new play product that introduces an exciting element in any play scheme. Portal Rocks, as the name suggests, have a 600mm diameter hole drilled through the centre. Portal Rocks are slip resistant and encourage children to climb and explore. Free from sharp edges, they are tough and durable; enabling them to withstand high levels of use over the years to come. They are approximately 1.5m tall, 1.5m wide and 450mm thick. However please note that other variations can be made to order. Use Portal Rocks singularly or team them with our play boulders and other play products, they will provide a challenging and enjoyable experience.

Children and Parent Centre Southwark (15)

Bespoke Granite water features can be made for outdoor play areas in any colour and size required. The stone centre piece shown incorporated a remote activated water jet which allowed the children"s centre staff to keep control of the water being used and the ability to still interact with the children. Another larger feature was created which allowed the children to fill areas with water and control its flow to other areas.

Skate Parks

For some areas, skaters have been viewed as disruptive by the community and measures to deter them from skating and meeting with other skater friends are often thought of as the right thing to do. Through experience and looking at research we have found that inviting youngsters with an interest in skating into the community and creating an area for them to go to rewards the neighbouring society much more. Milton Keynes is a good example of this. They transformed a local bus station into a now world famous skate park and the skaters who gather there both look after the area and do not tend to skate anywhere else.

Skate Boarding and roller blading over the years has become an extremely popular and even competitive sport amongst young people and indeed some adults. Natural Granite skate features can be created to suit any location size and inspiration. If you are able to draw your idea's we are able to make them from a wide range of materials and colours.

Natural Play Skate Parks

Bespoke benches are another feature which can also add play value as well as public seating to both commercial and playscape areas. Granite is a very hard material even when cut to form odd shapes and angles. It has proven to remain aesthetically pleasing and functional when subjected to weathering and play.