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What to use for pathways on patch?

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  • #1

    What to use for pathways on patch?

    My husband are new to allotments & we've only had ours a month or so.... We're looking for ideas on what to use on the pathways between the raised beds we're making as we think buying bark is going to be too expensive. Whatever it is needs to be child friendly as we have a 5yr old& a clumsy 2yr old

    Anyone any ideas?


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  • #2
    At my old allotment site we used woodchip and we got it virtually for free. Basically local tree surgeons dumped the woodchip at the site and we could help ourselves for a small donation. So if your site doesn't organise this, maybe have a quick ring around any local tree surgeons. I asked some who were cutting a tree in my neighbours garden and they were happy to bag it up for me.

    I've also got paving slabs for free, though this did end up with needing to fix the car suspension! Obviously paving slabs are more permanent. Woodchip will need replacing every now and then as it rots down.
    http://togrowahome.wordpress.com/ making a house a home and a garden home grown.

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    • #3
      I've got woodchip on most of mine, but am starting to collect bricks from freecycle for my main path.
      http://mudandgluts.com - growing fruit and veg in suburbia

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      • #4
        Agree with above, woodchip is normally delivered free to allotments. What I did is covered the paths in cardboard followed by a covering of woodchip, ask around next time you go to the lottie.
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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        • #5
          conveyor belting or rubber matting .... cheap as chips and no weeds ever grow through and it looks good...

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          • #6
            Originally posted by dim View Post
            conveyor belting or rubber matting .... cheap as chips and no weeds ever grow through and it looks good...
            Especially if it's still attached to the machine, you won't need to walk...................reminds me of Manchester Airport...............
            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
            Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
            Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
            -----------------------------------------------------------
            KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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            • #7
              Traditionalist here, grass paths, I know it needs mowing but was the way my grandad done it and I guess I have inherited his ways

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              • #8
                Originally posted by dim View Post
                conveyor belting or rubber matting .... cheap as chips and no weeds ever grow through and it looks good...
                Bet its not as cheap as woodchips!!
                Where would you buy cheap conveyor belting? I've looked on Goggle and can't find any prices.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                  Bet its not as cheap as woodchips!!
                  Where would you buy cheap conveyor belting? I've looked on Goggle and can't find any prices.
                  contact conveyor companies .... I used to design conveyors, and when they refurbish conveyors, they take the old belting to recycle centres and tip it

                  but here is brand new 3mm rubber non-slip matting ...

                  http://www.safetybuyer.com/anti-slip...FYXKtAodHmsADQ

                  #900mm wide and costs £6.99 per running meter ... a lot cheaper when you find it 2nd hand ... google is your friend
                  Last edited by dim; 28-05-2014, 06:43 PM.

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                  • #10
                    Mine are a mix of woodchip and gravel recyled from my back garden. The woodchip is more kid friendly but the gravel lasts better. It can depend One what you can get and how many paths you have.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Veggielot View Post
                      Mine are a mix of woodchip and gravel recyled from my back garden. The woodchip is more kid friendly but the gravel lasts better. It can depend One what you can get and how many paths you have.
                      Gravel is really horrible to kneel on though, even bark is a bit uncomfortable when dried out.


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                      Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                      Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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                      • #12
                        I use mypex woven weed control fabric , about 30 quid for a 50 m roll 1 m wide. You can cover with wood chips if you like at a later date when you have got them. Mine's been down about 5 years and is still good & I've only covered about 1/2 with wood chip


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                        • #13
                          I use old newspapers, soak in the water butt for a few minutes and then lay whole with overlaps. When the chippings appear at the allotment gate I cover the newspapers with a thin-ish layer, which looks a bit tidier and makes the paper last longer.

                          Being in London I get three free newspapers a day so I've got quite a decent supply
                          My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
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                          • #14
                            I use cheap wood chips from a local nursery.you do need a good kneeler and it has composted a bit too well in some places. Does need weeding,but some beneficial as got lots of poached egg plants that have self seeded
                            Gardening forever, housework whenever!

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                            • #15
                              Thanks folks, that's food for thought... Hadn't replied/joined in before now as been on a night shift.
                              In answer to the ask other folk at the allotment... The majority of people simply have bare soil but I can't keep up with weeding that was well


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