Chunky wood chips in the UK - where?

[Jon Suth]

Hopefully someone might know where I can get some. I've seen our US friends use these for rock faces and so on, I think they are actually pine bark? All I can seem to find in the UK are the mulch type smaller bits. I've looked at the suppliers for playground health and safety and they have larger bits sometimes, but only sell it in bags the size of a family car.
Any ideas?  Preferably one of the DIY chains, think it might be really expensive to have it shipped.
What I want to do is to stack it up and make rocky hill sides and use individual bits for terrain scatter.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

I can only tell you where I got mine from.....

I picked mine up at Lidl - not in the store but from the car park as they use them to decorate the car park verges.

Tony

[Jon Suth]

Nice one, but I'd feel morally obliged to buy a 5p carrier bag from them before I nick some!!

[grant]

I can only tell you where I got mine from.....

I picked mine up at Lidl - not in the store but from the car park as they use them to decorate the car park verges.

Tony

I used to go pick choice ones from my neighbour's front flower bed too.

[pocoloco]

Visit Finland, go to a forest, pick up pine bark And while here, buy huge amounts of cheap insulation foam board too

But if not Finland then for example:

from pet stores like Eric the Shed:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=57696.0

or from garden centres, Eric the Shed at it again:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=75143.0

[Jon Suth]

Pocoloco - its not that cork bark stuff, I can get that from a pet shop or online no problem. Its the wood chippings they use for gardens, soft play areas and to keep the weeds at bay I want, the big chunky stuff.

[Dewbakuk]

You're after large pine nuggets. Unfortunately they only really get used for play areas, amenity coverage etc. Not really a home use thing due to size and cost. I've only been able to find it in the UK in bulk bags, the same ones they deliver sand etc in. Keep wondering if it's worth buying a bulk bag and then selling smaller amounts to gamers

[grant]

You're after large pine nuggets. Unfortunately they only really get used for play areas, amenity coverage etc. Not really a home use thing due to size and cost. I've only been able to find it in the UK in bulk bags, the same ones they deliver sand etc in. Keep wondering if it's worth buying a bulk bag and then selling smaller amounts to gamers

Probably wood ...

Here in Canada they sell them bags about the size of a torso. Pretty big bag, really about a lifetime supply. I think under $20, maybe even $15? I bought one for a friend at the landscaping store near me (they're massive, sell everything from trees to small plants, ponds, etc.).

[Dewbakuk]

Probably wood ...

 

[Elk101]

Yeah, Dewkabuk is right,  the best ones are probably pine nuggets as used in play areas. I have trained the kids to bring back suitable samples.

[snitcythedog]

Pocoloco - its not that cork bark stuff, I can get that from a pet shop or online no problem. Its the wood chippings they use for gardens, soft play areas and to keep the weeds at bay I want, the big chunky stuff.

Parks in the Milton Keynes area have tonnes of it in the kiddy play areas.  It is where I got mine last time.  If you are still looking for a bag of the stuff then maybe B&Q or one of the other garden centers.  Probably the wrong time of year for it though. 
Snitchy sends. 

[Dewbakuk]

Nope garden centres don't carry it unfortunately.

[Jon Suth]

I've looked at the stuff you can get from the DIY stores, its much smaller chips, shards of it or just bigger than small stones. I'll keep looking. Thought I found a website selling it, but it was in the US!!

[kingsmt]

Jon, I am assuming that you've seen some of the pieces that I've posted here. These are indeed pine bark chips and they come in 50 pound bags in the US. They are however very cheap. Maybe 15-20 dollars for a 50 pound bag.
Your best hope is to buy the big bag and split them with like minded friends.
Best of luck...KingsMt

[Jon Suth]

Ah KingsMt I've got you to blame for putting these into my head. It must be the kind of trees you have over in the US compared to the available sources here in the UK. I saw plenty of the big pieces being used along the paths on the AWI and ACW battlefields as well!