Melcourt® Playbark

Category: Natural Play Surfaces

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Product Tagline:

The UK’s leading natural play surface for safe, attractive and durable playgrounds.

£13.25 Exc. VAT

Exc. VAT

General Introduction:

Melcourt Playbark is a premium, pine bark–based Loose Impact Absorbing Surface (LIAS) specifically developed for use beneath children’s play equipment. Widely recognised as the UK’s leading brand of play bark, it has been used extensively throughout the country for over 30 years, delivering proven safety performance and long-term reliability.

Carefully graded and virtually free from dust and fines, Melcourt Playbark provides an attractive, clean and free-draining surface that performs consistently in all weather conditions. It is suitable for use with all types of play equipment, including climbing frames, slides and space nets, and is particularly well suited to playgrounds designed for children up to 6 years old.

Key Features & Benefits:

Certified impact protection

Independently tested in accordance with BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177, confirming nationally accepted safety standards for children’s play areas.

Proven critical fall heights

Tested at depths of 300mm, 200mm and 100mm, achieving critical fall heights of 6.01m, 3.82m and 1.33m respectively.

Specifically graded for play use

Nominal particle size of 10–40mm, meeting all key criteria for playground surfacing.

Clean and safe to play on

Virtually dust and fines-free with less than 5% wood content by volume.

Free-draining and frost resistant

Rapid drainage ensures year-round usability, with performance unaffected by frost.

High durability

Long service life of 3–5 years or more, offering excellent value for money.

Fire resistance

High resistance to fire confirmed by testing to BS 4790:1987.

Low maintenance

Easy to install, maintain and, if required, relocate.

Vandal resistant

Loose, natural surface discourages misuse and damage.

Pest and animal deterrent

Creates a hostile living environment for pests and helps deter dogs and cats, reducing the risk of animal fouling.

Environmentally responsible

100% peat free, FSC® certified and reusable at the end of its life as a mulch or soil conditioner.

FSC® certified

FSC MIX Sources at a minimum of 70%

FSC Certificate Number

CU-COC-806457

100% peat free

Responsible packaging

Polythene packaging contains at least 30% post-consumer waste plastic. Bags are 100% recyclable (check local recycling options). Ongoing work to increase recycled content further.

Product Specification:

Main Constituent Pine bark

Origin British

Colour Reddish brown

Nominal Particle Size 10 – 40mm

Wood Content <5%

Dust and Fines Minimal

Bulk Density 210 – 260 kg/m³

Durability 3 – 5+ years

BS EN 1176 Compliant Yes

BS EN 1177 Tested Yes

BS 4790:1987 Fire Tested Yes

FSC® Certified Yes

Size of Product 60-litre bag

Recommended Uses +

Melcourt Playbark is ideal for:

Children’s playgrounds and play parks
Nurseries, schools and early years settings
Domestic garden play areas
Public and private recreational spaces

To comply with BS EN 1176, Playbark must be installed to a layer thickness 100mm greater than that identified by laboratory testing as necessary to achieve the required critical fall height.

While general guidance can be provided, customers are responsible for ensuring full compliance with all current legislation, standards and best practice, particularly in public or high-risk environments.

Why Choose? +

Melcourt Playbark combines proven safety performance, long-term durability and environmental responsibility. Trusted for decades by local authorities, schools and professional installers, it offers peace of mind where safety is paramount. Its clean appearance, excellent drainage and low maintenance requirements make it a practical and visually appealing solution for any play area.

Choose Melcourt Playbark for a trusted, certified and cost-effective playground surfacing solution. Designed to protect, perform and last, it provides a safe and attractive play environment for children while meeting recognised industry standards. Available in convenient 60 litre bags, ready for professional or domestic installation. +