My apologies to international visitors as a lot of the firms mentioned here are UK based. There should be local equivalents, I shall be building up a page of international contacts.

I also wish to try and promote cottage industries. It is easy to just go down to the big to stores and buy apiece of plastic with an action man sticker on. Some of my best toys have come from little shops I have found whilst on holiday , at a county show or via the web. I will give you these contacts where I can. I believe divrsity is good (and it's no fun visiting someone elses houst to find they have the sme pieces of plastic as you)

Scaffolding- I use SGB as they are local Aluminium pole is £6 per m clamps are £2.50 each

Scramble net - Army surplus is a good place, mine is a cargo net from Anchor supplies £25 for the net + £8 postage

Rope - buy it by the m from your local garden centre/builders yard or get a 200m coil from CPC

IKEA do some very good value swings, rope ladders and D rings, the web site shows your nearest store, the don't do mail order unfortunately

Early learning centre sell good value frames

Toys-R-us do cheapies

All my diggers are from Toys-R-us about £9 each

You can get lovely white playpit sand from early learning, or go to Wickes and pay 5 times less.

Gravel from wickes/garden centre if you just need a 50kg bag

Wooden trike from Early learning centre

Argos is good for cheap plasticky toys like coupe