climbing frame - Selwood Products – Slide Range

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Selwood Products – Slide Range

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Here at Selwood products we have a fantastic range of slides on offer that come with our play sets. We all know how beneficial outdoor play is for children and slides are the finishing touch to any outdoor play structure, helping to keep children entertained all day long. Slides are perfect for making a quick descent from any elevated play system / climbing frame and add a fun, safe and speedy element to all frames for your kids to enjoy. Are slide range consists of the following, Straight slides, Tube slides and Curved slides. All slides vary in size and are designed to meet the deck heights for certain frames. They are all tested to EN71 Safety standards, which means they are only suitable for residential use only.

All slides are made from strong durable plastic, most coloured green as to deter insects in the summertime. They are all high-sided to prevent any accidental tumbles, so your child will be well supported as they make their descent. Each slide has a raised lip at the bottom so the kids hit the ground with their feet landing on the floor and not their bottoms.  Each slide is UV tested and has built in UV Inhibitors to protect it from the sun’s rays. This helps keep the product cool and not too hot to touch for when in use by the kids. We have also reinforced the rear of our slides to make them extra strong, and to easily stand up to children running the wrong way up them!

Straight Slides

We offer our customers a fantastic range of straight slides to accompany are play sets. Otherwise referred to as straight wavy slides as they contain a slight wave in the middle, these offer children a fast and exciting exit down from the climbing frame. All straight slides feature high rails to ensure the easiest and safest entry possible as well as having flat bottom bases to aid landing once descended. These injection moulded HDPE slides are are also reinforced to make sure they are extra hard wearing. All straight slides are made of durable, green plastic – a perfect colour choice during the summer as it won’t attract the bugs!

Curved Slides

The curved slide range consists of slides slightly longer than all straight slides. This is predominately down to the design of the curved slides with the fixed bend in place that curves round to the front of each play set. This feature not only gives children a slightly longer ride but adds great character to the overall appearance of the frame itself. Like all straight slides our Curved range all feature high rails to ensure maximum possible safety for your children. The curved slides for the 1.2m (4ft) decks are 3.05m (10ft) in length, and those on the 1.5m (5ft) decks are 3.65m (12ft) in length.

Tube Slides

Our fantastic Tube slide range is a proven hit with all children. They offer children a fully enclosed and exciting decent down from the frame and apply a superb cutting edge to the overall appearance of each set. The tube slides allow children to ride down from a decent of 3.65m (12ft) in total and take up the least amount of space when compared to all other slides we offer with our play sets. The slide turns in on itself rather than sticking out to the front or side of the play set. It spirals once in the middle and flattens at the bottom so children land on their feet and can soon be on their way up the play set ready to slide down again.

DIY Slides

Here at Selwood we also offer our own individual slide range for those who choose to construct their own ‘DIY’ climbing frame or tree house. A varied selection of straight, curved, tube and wave slides are available at differing deck heights. These are predominately either 1.2 metre (4ft) or 1.5 meter (5ft) play deck heights.

To view the fantastic range of climbing frames and slides we have on offer at Selwood Products please follow the links below!

http://www.selwoodclimbingframes.co.uk/climbing-frames/

http://www.climbingframesuk.com/slides/

 

 

Are you ready for Christmas?

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It’s the start of December, one of the busiest months of the year and preparations should be well under way by now for a stress free Christmas and New Year! You should have ordered the turkey, written your Christmas cards, decided where to put the all important tree and have made up your mind on what presents to buy the family. Sound familiar? No. Then don’t panic, you are not in the minority. Most of us leave things until the last minute these days. Pressures of work combined with end of term activities for the children, plus keeping the housework up to date can all be to blame. People are increasingly leaving their Christmas shopping right until the last minute with some even using Christmas Eve as their only designated shopping time. Of course this can result in huge disappointment for those shoppers as the shelves are undoubtedly empty with products out of stock.

So who is the biggest culprit here; men or women? Well typically men are the main offenders with nearly a fifth of them admitting to leaving their shopping until the last minute. Women tend to be more organised although let’s not pretend that us women don’t dash out on Christmas Eve in a mad panic because we have managed to forget one vital item for the festivities! It is a well know fact that avoiding the crowds of shoppers and the last minute rush in the week before Christmas can mean your shopping days are more relaxing and your general approach to Christmas is calm and collected rather than fast and furious! So make a start now at the beginning of the month, plan ahead and finish off those lists. Book some days in your diary and have a set list for each day. Stick to it and keep to a budget. Last minute dashes to the shops can mean over spending and blowing your budget. Christmas can be an expensive time but by being organised and shopping in advance you can keep an eye on the pennies and stay within your budget.

Take advantage of pre Christmas offers, discounts and deals. These can save you time and money. One of the best ways to control your spending and to be organised is to shop online. Not only do you avoid the crowds of frustrated shoppers but also the temptation to spend over budget. We offer a fantastic range of climbing frames, swing sets and garden toys for children aged 3 upwards. So if you are still thinking of what to buy the children this year then look no further than Selwood Products. Beat the Christmas rush, shop and pay securely online and be super organised all in one go! Not only will you be giving the children a fantastic present that can be used all year round and provide hours of active outdoor play but you can also give yourself a pat on the back and look forward to an organised relaxing Christmas!

‘Let’s Pretend…’ – The importance of creative play for children.

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‘Lets pretend….’, a commonly used phrase by all children and such an important one as well. We can all remember our childhood days; playing house or shop with our friends. Letting our creative minds run riot as we emulated our parents in our own little make believe worlds! But just how important is creative play for our little ones? Did you realise that embracing creative play from an early age can actually help to promote cognitive development and stimulate their brains? It enhances that process of obtaining knowledge through thought, experience and the senses. Daydreaming is an imagery process which involves a certain amount of problem solving. It isn’t just about pretending to cook the dinner, vacuum the house and put the babies to bed! This all important ‘role play’ helps towards our children’s development, which in turn benefits them in adult life.

In their creative role play children will re-create a home environment and copy their primary carer – the person they spend the most amount of time with. Fantasy environments and the processes of pretending will allow children to practice and develop their social skills within a safe environment, whilst encouraging friendships through cooperation. Learning to listen to others; their ideas and methods will encourage a sense of order in friendship and improve language and communication skills. Group play helps to determine peer groups and social order and will encourage children to work together as a team. Individual play is just as beneficial with children developing their imagination, taking on various roles within their play situations and promoting inspiration and individual thought processes. Creative role play with adults can be just as beneficial, giving us adults the chance to see developmental skills unfolding right before our eyes.

Playing ‘house’ is a game all children love; boys and girls alike. Playhouses are a great way to encourage this role play scenario one step further. The recreation of a home environment can be easier for children if they have a mini house in which to do this. In effect it acts as a prop for the child’s own game. Playing the house and home role can help to develop a sense of care and protection towards others, as well as enforcing both physical and motor skills.

Selwood products have a great range of outdoor toys which includes play houses, ideal for children aged between 3 and 10 years. Attention to detail on our playhouses allows children to experiment in a physical sense; with working window shutters on our Bayberry model and a stable door on our Savannah model. Both made with 100% cedar wood and guaranteed for 10 years to give your little ones hours of fun filled play. So encourage your children to develop within creative play. It doesn’t just amuse them when they are young; it has a huge impact on their development through the years and helps to shape them into the person they will become in later life.

Let’s talk turkey!

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Let’s talk Turkey!  It’s all about Christmas dinner; the chance to do your mother proud with your culinary skills and for the whole family to tuck into the sumptuous feast you have lovingly prepared for them all!  Or is it a case of burning the roast potatoes, the turkey won’t defrost in time and the sprouts have turned to mush!  Whatever you decide to cook for the family this Christmas you can be sure that it will come with an added serving of pressure, topped with a sprinkling of stress!

Nowadays, the traditional turkey seems to be in direct competition with its close farmyard friends; beef, chicken, duck, lamb and pork.  So is it really time for our good old turkey to hang up its drumsticks and make way for its fellow barnyard buddies at Christmas time?  Glazed gammon, slow cooked pork and rib of beef are great alternatives but for me it’s all about the turkey at Christmas time!  Traditionally in the UK we feasted on boar or pheasant at Christmas time with turkey only becoming popular in the 17th century.  Roast potatoes and parsnips, stuffing and bread sauce all make great traditional accompaniments.  With cranberry sauce now increasingly popular thanks to our American friends!  But thanks to our love of TV chefs, celebrity cook books and online foodie forums we see our Christmas dinner staples being upgraded and given a makeover; Brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, parsnips roasted with honey and parmesan, potatoes roasted with rosemary and red onion and polenta and pancetta stuffing but to name a few.  So do these modern twists on classic accompaniments give an uplifting feel to a somewhat dated dinner?  Or should we leave well alone?  It’s very subjective.  For me, personally I think there is nothing nicer than a traditional Christmas dinner with each part of the meal holding its own in terms of flavour and colour.  But everyone differs.

When it comes to managing your stress levels in the kitchen though I am sure it makes sense to keep things simple and stick to tradition.  Avoid the possible last minute panic when you realise you have forgotten the pancetta or parmesan for the vegetables!  When you are cooking for family and/or friends at Christmas time the last thing you want is to burden yourself with further pressures.  Timing is important and keeping everything warm is a must.  Read your cooking instructions for the meat and remember to allow some time to let it rest.  Maybe peel your vegetables the night before to save time on the big day.  Set the table the night before and have the wine chilling in the fridge.  Many supermarkets now offer readymade bread and cranberry sauces which are great time saving inventions to keep everything in the kitchen running smoothly!

Let’s be honest at Christmas time it’s all about relaxing with the family and enjoying each other’s company, whilst tucking into a glorious homemade festive feast.  Keep it simple, stick to tradition and keep the stress and pressure to a minimum in the kitchen this year! If you are worried about your little ones tucking into their Christmas dinner then why not get them to spend some time in the garden while you prepare dinner. Outdoor play certainly works up an appetite and children love active play! Check out our fantastic range of climbing frames and swing sets for garden use and see what seasonal offers we have on our website!

Can only mums enjoy playing on climbing frames with their children?

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Surely play is a family thing and not exclusive to mums? In Birmingham, West Midlands “Kids Go Wild” decided to ban fathers from the children’s play centre according to shocking article in a Daily Mail article dated 7th August 2012.

This unusual policy was decided by owners for cultural reasons and a poster outside the play facility reads ‘Ladies and children only. No boys over 9 allowed’ .
A Manchester-based specialist legal firm specialising in discrimination law has said, “Under the Equality Act it can be lawful to limit your services to one gender or religious group, but you must be able to ‘objectively justify’ what you have done. To my mind it would be difficult for the centre to show it has met this test when it could have offered women-only sessions or days of the week instead.”

In the complex world we live in surely we need to keep children’s play and family playtime simple. At Selwood Products we manufacture high quality, safe and great value children’s wooden climbing frames and wooden swingsets. Browse our quality selection and enjoy outdoor play in your own garden.

Anchoring a climbing frame

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Our clients are looking for high quality products that will provide years of fun for their children. Therefore we have to make sure that our climbing frames are as safe as can be. However, we know that as a family grows, sometimes moving house is absolutely necessary. But it is a same when you have no choice but to leave your garden toys because they are concreted into the ground.

We have therefore perfected the design of our climbing frames so that the children’s safety is never compromised but also so that climbing frame can be moved and taken to the new family home, should you move house.

As you know, all of our frames are made from cedar wood which means they are quite heavy! They are perfectly fine to be left freestanding on the lawn – they will find their footing and settle into the soil. However, we know that the kids will LOVE to swing high and hurtle down the slide at full speed, so of course, a little more stability and support is absolutely essential. Therefore all of our climbing frames come with ground anchors which easily attach to the bottom of the frame in strategic places and stick into the ground at a depth of 35cm. These ground anchors can be concreted into the ground if you wish – this is advisable if you live in a particularly windy area!

Selwood Products at the Royal Norfolk Show

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Today is the day! The day of the Royal Norfolk Show has finally arrived and we are excited to be showcasing our fantastic range of climbing frames, Yardistry and trampolines. For those visiting the brilliant family event we will be at stand 235, Avenue 8 between 1st and 2nd drive.

Our expert team will be there today and tomorrow answering any queries you may have about any of our outdoor play equipment and Yardistry structures screens and accents. This is a great opportunity for those who would like to see our outdoor toys in the flesh to do so.

To shop our products click here.

The Clair-Monte Climbing Frame New To Climbing Frames UK

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The Clair-Monte is manufactured by Selwood Products and retailed through Climbing Frames UK. This frame is brand new to Climbing Frames UK and will look fantastic in any garden.

Who should buy it?
If you have active children who love to jump from one activity to the next this will be the climbing frame for you. There is a swing beam with two belt swings and a 2 child-glider and a separate monkey bar beam. It is also great for those who have younger children. The deck height is 4ft which is high enough but not too high for little ones. There is even space below the upper play deck to create a sand play area. This is great for younger children who may not be quite ready for the main set. There is even a rock wall ladder designed specifically to help younger children climb up to the play deck. There are both climbing rocks and gaps in the slats so they can use the gaps as footholds if they aren’t confident with climbing.

What kind of garden do you need?
The Clair-Monte climbing frames features two beams, one either side, so a wider garden is ideal. We recommend you always place your swing set on grass and not concrete. It is also a good idea to put it on flat ground. a few bumps and a very slight slope is fine.

What makes it so special?
The Clair-Monte includes some fantastic features like;
UV resistant tarpaulin roof
Vinyl chalk wall
Spacious upper play deck
Monkey bars
Two belt swings
Two child-glider
Fully functioning flower box
Straight wavy slide
Rock wall ladder
Sand play area

Not only is it full of features the kids will love it looks great so Mums and Dads will love it too. The Clair-Monte also comes with a fully illustrated manual and is designed entirely for home build.

For more details on the Clair-Monte please click here.

Climbing Frames, Yardistry and Trampolines at the Norfolk Show

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The countdown to the Norfolk show is well under way. This Wednesday we will be taking our range of climbing frames, Yardistry structures and trampolines to the Royal Norfolk Show. The Royal Norfolk show is a fantastic family day out and we can’t wait to see you all there.

The Selwood team have all been extremely busy putting together our stand for the upcoming county show which will take place at the Norfolk show ground, Norwich. This is a rare opportunity to touch, feel and see what our climbing frames and garden structures, screens and accents are like in the flesh. We will be at stand 235, Avenue 8 between 1st and 2nd drive, please pay us a visit.

Yardistry is our newest range of products and we can’t wait for you to see it. Our accents, structures and screens are a great way to give your garden a stylish and contemporary look. They are easy to put together and come in a gorgeous grey colour. Whether it is to cover any unsightly areas, or make the most of a special place in your garden, Yardistry is perfect.

Make sure you come and visit us on Wednesday.

Preparing Your Garden For A Climbing Frame

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Often when people buy a climbing frames it is the first time they have ever bought such a big structure for their garden. Our climbing frames have a 10 year guarantee which, by any standards, is quite a long time. For that reason it is important that you prepare your garden for the arrival of your playset.

  • We would of course advise that you have ample space in your garden for the climbing frame you have chosen. Check the dimension of the frame against the size of your garden We suggest a 1.5m perimeter around any swing set to give little ones space to swing freely and race around it. This is of course a guideline and not a requirement.
  • Ensure there is a clear path for delivery men to carry your goods round to the back of the house for you (2 man delivery). Having them clamber over things carrying heavy goods is unnecessarily dangerous and they may refuse to do it.
  • Make sure all debris, overgrown bushes and long grass is cleared before your playset arrives. Doing this afterwards may be a lot trickier.
  • Of course in an ideal world all gardens would be perfectly flat but we know that they’re not. This isn’t the end of the world. Your garden doesn’t have to be pitch perfect but if you have a definite incline we would suggest placing the legs of the climbing frame into the ground so the set ends up being level. Although you must bear in mind little ones may catch their legs when they are swinging and having the wood in the damp ground may cause it to rot quicker.
  • Some of our customers like to add rubber matting, mulch or bark around their climbing frames. This is by no means essential. Although we strongly suggest you do not place your swing set on concrete.If you do want to put some kind of soft flooring down underneath the climbing frame it is best to do this after the set is built and in place.
  • If you are lucky enough to have several spots in your garden where your playset could go it is probably a good idea to place the climbing frame away from a neighbour’s fence and in your eye line. So in line with a kitchen window or patio doors is normally quite useful.

  • We like to think our climbing frames are fairly low maintenance. Getting the position, surrounding area and grounding right before installation will save you a lot of trouble in the future.