When a new playground gets installed somewhere it’s easy to notice the kids climbing all over it, using it to its full potential. The thing that usually goes unnoticed, is the migration of kids to the items outside of the playground area: boulders, logs, etc. New play structures are great but sometimes don’t challenge a child’s sense of imagination and fun. They can help build motor skills and body strength but have little in the way of imaginative play.

Cue the rocks.

Kids love playing on their new playground but as soon as they discover landscaping rocks and logs, they cut a path right to them. Why is this the case? Part of it has to do with the fact that there are no restrictions or interpretations on how to use rocks and logs. On a playground, you climb up this side, run down this ramp in this direction, and then go down the slide. Repeat.

On a rock, you can climb anywhere, you can hang, you can pretend it’s anything you want. Likewise for a log or piece of driftwood. These items have an unlimited life because they can provide both physical and cognitive benefits to a child. Just like a kid opens a present and plays with the box, he or she runs the playground circuit a few times and then heads for the item that they can turn into anything they want with their imagination.

We, at Urban Green, have noticed a real trend in a demand for boulders and raw logs/driftwood for playground areas. Clients are still very interested in playground structures but would like a natural addition to their play area as well. This is usually accomplished through the strategic placement of different shaped boulders and raw logs (debarked and sanded). Not only do these elements provide a more natural feel to the area itself, they add play value. It’s a definite plus, and in my opinion, essential  to balance both imaginative play and physical play.

Logs and boulders also have an application outside of playgrounds and kids in general. Several of our visits to landscape architects around BC have resulted in the same request: where can I get logs and boulders to put in my designs? There is also a real demand for these items just for aesthetic purposes, whether it’s  visual or functional. It might be as simple as placing a large boulder in a building courtyard, or a bit more complex, such as creating a log pathway for several hundred feet.

Regardless of the application, raw logs and boulders are items that are becoming more and more in demand. Because of this, we have added them to our online store and are currently sourcing even more natural elements such as loose aggregates and various stones.