Chunky wood chips in the UK - where?

[Cubs]

Like this?

https://www.scotbarkuk.com/item/967/DecorativeBarkandChips/Pure-Pine-Bark-Nuggets.html

[Dewbakuk]

Like this?

https://www.scotbarkuk.com/item/967/DecorativeBarkandChips/Pure-Pine-Bark-Nuggets.html

That's the stuff. Only available in bulk bags and not at all currently.

[Cubs]

It's a lot more expensive than I thought it would be. When we had high winds and lots of fallen trees a couple of years back I confess to going scavenging with a hammer, chisel and bucket.

[Momotaro]

I have to confess to taking a plastic bag along to play areas when the kids were younger and scavenging.

These days I'd get arrested if I went on my own... 

Milton Keynes eh?  I'm working in Aylesbury during the week, I may have to take an evening detour...  Definitely looking to get arrested...

[Klingsor]

I bought a bag in B & Q about a decade ago. It lay around until I finally figured out how to use it properly and how wonderful it was and now I have run out. I looked last year and did find some places in England selling it which is useless to me as I am in Northern Ireland so I would have to get a pallet of it – which I am not entirely adverse to. I have not given up hope yet and haunt garden centres looking for some more.

Try looking for bark nuggets or cedar bark chips. The former seems to produce more hits.

[Dewbakuk]

Bark nuggets do still turn up in b&q etc periodically, but they're the small ones unfortunately, usually no bigger than around 30mm

[kingsmt]

Even with smaller chips, you can build a respectable piece. Just hot glue them together. Don't forget that you can break these chips up to fit into each other,  as if they were natural crevases. Keep the cracks dark and scatter some vegatation in them for a realistic look.
You can also stack them up like pancakes to make rocky terrain.

Pust some on your ground and then cover a portion as if the were sticking out of the earth.

Lots you can do with the smaller chips.

[Jon Suth]

The problem with the stuff you can get in the UK is that it is like mulch rather than ground cover, so its like chunky dust!!
I think the solution is to raid a supermarket car park or lurk around in a park until the groundsmen disappear for a brew of tea!!!

[Rhoderic]

This has got me curious. Any pictures of wargaming terrain made out of the stuff? If it's that sought after, I want to at least have it on my radar

[westwaller]

Easy enough to get in the Uk from specialist horticultural suppliers, (just google pine bark nuggets) but it averages 130 quid for 600 litres. It might be worth trying to find a local company to you and giving them a call about buying smaller amounts for modelling or perhaps you are enquiring about a sample of their product(s)

Have a search on the net and in your yellow pages for a company and give it a go. Some people in this world are friendly and helpful... If you can go and collect it yourself, then I bet that makes it easier...

[Dewbakuk]

Some examples from a quick Google search.

[Rhoderic]

Oh, in that case I was just confused. The stuff in Cubs's link looked like something else. I'm quite familiar with the material in those pictures and have some of it myself (though I can't recall where I got it). Sorry.

[Eric the Shed]

I produced these from Oak Bark (scavenged from the local park) - remember to blast this in the microwave to kill off any bugs

http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rocky-outcops-oak-bark.html

[Silent Invader]

I looked into this a couple of years ago. Aside from the bulk supplies mentioned, I did find one retail bagged equivalent. When I said find, I mean sort of: in that while it could be purchased nowhere in about 50 miles of me actually carried it. I then found a cheap local supplier of cork so canned the idea. Apologies but I can't remember the brand.

Edit:

I think the brand might have been Melcourt, which is UK but sells wholesale only. They do a variety of bark shreds, chips and nuggets, many of which are in 70/75 litre bags.

For example there's the 15-35mm orchid nuggets at £17 for 70 litres

http://www.bhgsltd.co.uk/melcourt-orchid-bark-course-grade-70l-p-1481.html

There are bigger grades (up to I think 150mm in reptile) and cheaper prices (about £8 upwards - but will include more fines and won't be disease free).

www.melcourt.co.uk

Just to be clear, I haven't actually used or even seen this brand.


Edit2:

A few more 10mm - 50 MM play bark for less than £9 plus delivery

http://www.jfcmonro.co.uk/search.asp?brand=Melcourt

[black hat miniatures]

I have just bought a sample of this to try - I found you could get a small amount for £3 post free from CPA Horticultural:

http://www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk/play-surfaces/play-nuggets

It arrived today and I have two ziploc bags of large pieces Pine Play nuggets and Deluxe pine nuggets and one of bark mulch - which doesn't look usable.

Pictures with a sample Dust 28mm figure for size against a couple of pieces:







Mike