Has anyone put rubber matting down instead of grass?

[Moomin]

...in kids' play area? Half our garden has outside toys in it- climbing frame, slide, etc. It's a nightmare trying to move it everytime we (dh) mows the lawn and the ground in uneven and the turf ropey and weedy (sounds delightful doesnt it). Has anyone out that thick rubber matting down or is it too expensive? What happens about drainage and general upkeep? and where do you buy it?

Buy horse rubber matting - or how about making a large sand pit?

or bark chips?

My friend just put some "fake" grass down. Not the nasty plastic stuff that would give you friction burns; there's some quite realistic looking stuff you can get. Might be worth considering. It keeps the mud down, and the drainage is good.

WE had bark chips there a few years back but it became a huge community latrine for the cats in the area [barf]

JUst been online lookign at the fake grass but can't find any prices. will carry on searching.

twelveyeargap - was it pricey do you know?

Don't know how much my friend paid (and she's away at the moment), but this website starts at £10 per m for the stuff they recommend for play areas. Artifical grass

Ta for that