To bark or not to bark?

[PiaThreeTimes]

I have a messy area which was about 20ft x 12ft, and I'm not sure what to do with it. Half is currently gravelled and VERY weedy and the other half has a rotten shed and a pile of rubble on it. I was thinking of turfing half, with a step down (railway sleeper?) to a bark area. We have a tiny budget which is why we're not paving. We're not keen on gravel as we have small children and it seem impractical.

But, my friend thinks that bark is tacky and "pikey". Is it? I wouldn't be bothered usually, but we're selling-up soon, so need it to be appealing.

Thank you! :)

Nobody wants to tell me I have pikey taste, do they?

Barking!

Bark is probably an improvement on a rotten shed, rubble and weeds. I have no idea whether bark is tacky, but it seems to be almost as impractical as gravel if you have young children. It also gives slugs somewhere to live. I would just use weedkiller and more gravel...

Thanks, Stropperella. We're looking at Play Bark, which is big, soft clumps. My friend just text me to say it'll look like Homebase car park. Eeeek!