Established over 15 years

Shaded Nation

Shaded Nation – Shade Sails

The shade sail specialists

Shaded Nation is your one-stop-shop for anything to do with shade sails. Whether it’s for your school, home or businesses, we have a quality shade structure for you.

We are an authorised seller of Sail Shade World shades, which are quite simply the best on the market. All of our products use commercial-grade fabric and are built to last for between 15 and 20 years.

Why you should opt for a commercial grade shade sail

Why you should opt for a commercial grade shade sail

Why should you invest in a shade sail?
– Ultimate sun protection
– Shelter from wind and rain
– A wide range of potential uses both commercial and domestic
– Boost the value and appearance of your home or property
– Affordable structures that are built to last

Whether you need a complex shade sail structure for commercial use or a small DIY structure for your back garden, we can help and will provide the same professional, dedicated service regardless.

Why should you use choose us?
– Shades to suit all tastes, requirements and budgets
– Full project management service available – from design through to installation
– Bespoke shade sails made to order
– Pre-made DIY shade sails
– Complete range of accessories
– Friendly and helpful staff with years’ worth of experience

If you’ve got any questions about our shade sails or the service we offer, feel free to get in touch over the phone or by email.

How shade sails are contributing to the pop up restaurant craze

A new craze is sweeping the UK’s eating out scene – pop up restaurants. Also known as underground restaurants, these venues can literally pop up in any part of a city, often where you wouldn’t expect a restaurant to be located.

For example, they are sometimes found in empty and unused buildings, outdoors or even in a person’s home. It is this quirkiness that makes these venues attractive and if you’re looking for a change to the usual restaurant experience this could be it.

The idea for pop up restaurants is generally considered as stemming from Cuba and the US and this approach to eating out is now gaining real momentum here in the UK. London has seen the trend take off most, with pop up venues now familiar sites across the capital.

These restaurants tend to be temporary and will only be in one location for a limited space of time, which adds to their appeal and provides a feeling of exclusivity. Pop ups are often operated by small independent retailers, but it’s not uncommon for well-known chefs to set up their own venue and use it as a chance to experiment with new menus.

How are shade sails helping?
So, pop up restaurants are becoming the go-to eating out option for diners in London, but what has that got to do with shade structures? Well, many of the pop up restaurants that are based outside are choosing to use shade sails as they are the ideal means of providing shelter for this type of venue.

It’s important for any outdoor eating venue to offer its customers protection from the elements, especially in a country like the UK where you can never be sure what the weather is going to do next.

Why restaurants can benefit from shade canopies

How shade sails are contributing to the pop up restaurant craze

Indeed, even when the sun is shining its advisable for a restaurant to provide shelter as eating a meal with the sun beating down from above can be hot and uncomfortable. Our shade sails are ideally suited to this purpose as they can block up to nearly 99 per cent of the sun’s UV rays, providing a cool and shaded spot in which people can relax, eat and drink.

It’s not just the sun they provide protection from however, as these structures are more than capable of protecting diners from light rain and wind, which could easily ruin an outdoor meal otherwise.

Another reason why pop up restaurants are so keen to use shade sails is the ease with which they can be installed and taken down again. These venues are temporary by their very nature and having a structure that can be quickly assembled and then stored away for future use is ideal.

The importance of appearance shouldn’t be overlooked as well, as any restaurant needs to look good if it’s to attract diners. Our shades tick that box fully, providing the ideal combination of style and substance.

Considering setting up your own outdoor pop up restaurant and want to know more about using a shade sail? Contact to the team at Shaded Nation or take a look at the range of shades we have on offer.

Why investing in a sandpit is worthwhile

Sandpits are one of the best pieces of children’s playground apparatus going. Schools and parents have been using them for decades and with good reason, as they provide everything you could look for in a piece of children’s play equipment.

Fun and development
First things first, sandpits are just great fun for kids. Young children are fascinated by sand and there’s plenty of related activities that can keep them occupied.

For example, give kids a bucket and spade and they’ll be able to get to work building a sand castle. Not only is this enjoyable, it helps to develop their creative skills and imagination, plus it’s easy for adults to get involved as well.

Other toys like plastic lorries can be used to move the sand around and engage a child’s imagination in a similar way.

Sandpits make it easy to play games that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. For instance, youngsters can use the sand to pretend they’re at the beach or in the desert – providing further fuel for their imagination.

Why investing in a sandpit is worthwhile

Why investing in a sandpit is worthwhile

Cheap and easy
While young kids love sandpits, they are also great from a practical point of view. Sandpits are one of the most affordable pieces of playground equipment you can hope to find and you can even make them yourself relatively easily.

Keep it covered
If you invest in a sandpit, it’s important to ensure it’s covered so children will be protected from the sun and other elements. This will also help to make sure the sand remains clean and is safe to play with.

Here at Shaded Nation we can provide a custom-made sandpit cover that is tailored to your exact needs. With a life expectancy of ten to 15 years, these structures provide excellent value for money.

We know that style is important and are confident our covers will enhance the appearance of any garden or school playground. Click here if you’d like to know more.

A look at our low budget shade structures

Here at Shaded Nation we provide shade structures to suit all budgets. So, if you’d like to improve your property but don’t have much cash to spare we can still help.

Our low budget shade structures provide all the quality you’d expect from us at an extremely affordable price. Here is a rundown of the features of these products and a few examples of the ones we have on offer.

A look at our low budget shade structures

A look at our low budget shade structures

Features
All of our low budget shade structures provide 90 per cent protection from the sun’s UV rays, meaning they are a great way to enjoy the outdoors safely. Meanwhile, the use of colour-keyed seatbelt edge webbing, UV-stabilized fabric and thread and high density polyethylene guarantees long-lasting performance and durability.

Our products are all designed to absolutely minimise the chances of rooting, mildew, shrinkage, fraying and tears. You’ll be surprised at how easy maintenance is – all that’s required is a wash with mild detergent and a hose down, as well as the occasional re-tension.

The fabrics our shades are made from are non-permeable, meaning they are water resistant and can provide shelter from showers and light rain.

Just because you’re choosing an affordable product doesn’t mean you’ll have to skimp on style and when placing your order you’ll have four contemporary colours to choose from.

Our products
We’ve a number of low budget shades on offer, with a variety of shapes and sizes. This triangular shade canopy is good for tight spaces, while this square structure is an excellent choice if you have a bit more space to spare.

An attractive option is this Benalla shade, which is available in two sizes. Another possibility is this Bendigo structure, which combines one square and two triangle shades.

Want to take a look at our full range of low budget shade structures? Click here and get started.

How to ensure your garden is safe for young children

Why your office could benefit from a covered outdoor area

One of the worst things about working in an office is the fact you’re cooped up indoors all day with limited access to the outdoors.

Indeed, even when people do have an opportunity to go outside, such as their lunch hour, many choose to remain at their desks as there is nowhere suitable for them to spend their break.

In light of this, it is in the interest of employers to create outdoor spaces for their staff, as giving workers access to fresh air provides a number of benefits that could lead to increased productivity and improved business performance.

Relaxation

It’s unrealistic to expect people to consistently work at a high level for eight hours a day or more if they are not given time to rest and recharge their batteries. Providing an inviting outdoor space can encourage staff to leave their desk and enjoy their breaks in the open air, which may well give their performance a boost when they return.

Health 

Spending a whole day sat in front of a computer is not good for the human body. Taking a break from the screen can help to reduce the chances of staff suffering from problems such as eye strain, backache and repetitive strain injury, all of which could be a drain on their productivity.

Once again, creating an outdoor area will increase the chances of people choosing to spend their free time away from the computer and this can only be good for their health and long-term performance.

Keep it covered

Naturally, an outdoor space is only going to be attractive if it is sheltered from the elements – no one wants to spend their lunch hour getting soaked in the rain. A shade sail canopy is the ideal way to cover your outside space, as it will provide protection from wind, rain and the sun’s UV rays in the summer months.

What’s more, these structures are semi-permanent meaning they can be taken down should you require.

Sunburn – know who’s most at risk

Sunburn can affect everyone – and anybody who spends too long exposed to strong sunlight runs the risk of damaging their skin.

However, there are certain groups of people who are more susceptible than others and it’s particularly important for these individuals to ensure they stay protected. While it might be frustrating to have a friend who tans much more easily than you, looking after your health should always be top priority.

Pale skin

If you have naturally pale skin, it’s highly likely that you will be more affected by sunburn than people with darker skin. Individuals with red or blonde hair and light-coloured eyes tend to be the most at-risk.

This is because they have less melanin in their skin, which protects against UV radiation. However, even if you have darker features don’t take this for granted, as people of all skin types can still get burnt if they are exposed to strong sun for too long.

History

Each time your skin is burnt by the sun it causes damage that cannot be reversed and even instances of sunburn that happened in childhood can lead to skin cancer in later life.

Furthermore, the NHS has found that if you have two or more close relatives who have developed skin cancer, your own chances of contracting the disease may well be increased.

Children

Babies and young children have soft and tender skin that is much more susceptible to sunburn than adults. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that babies younger than six months old should never be exposed to the sun and those over this age should be protected with sun lotion and sunglasses.

Stay protected

Thankfully sunburn is very easy to avoid if you take some precautions. Applying sun lotion and keeping your skin covered will go a long way to reducing the risks – as will using a shade sail.

These structures are designed to allow people to enjoy the outdoors while being protected from the sun at the same time.

Whether it’s a children’s playground, sporting venue, or family garden, a Shaded Nation shade sail is the perfect way to stay safe in the sun.

Schools turn to outdoor learning

It is becoming increasingly common for schools and nurseries to incorporate outdoor learning into their curriculum.

This allows children to spend time outside and experience a type of education that isn’t possible in the classroom.

Earlier this year, a study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) found that outdoor play and teaching can make an important contribution to helping children make the transition from early-years education into primary school.

Researchers from Plymouth University, the University of St Mark and St John and the Institute of Education found that opportunities to spend time outside become increasingly limited as youngsters move into formal schooling.

However, they believe some of the tensions created by classroom teaching can be eased by the more independent and less supervised nature of outdoor learning.

The researchers argued that outside lessons and free play offers opportunities for children to learn independently, something which has become less common as schools focus on attainment and pupil testing.

“Outdoor learning had a different quality from the teacher-led lessons that took place in the classroom. Outdoor spaces offer opportunities for children to be more creative, inquiring and socially skilled, as they can pursue their own lines of interest and talk together,” commented Sue Waite, who led the project.

She added: “In classrooms, dominated by specific learning outcomes and teachers talking, it’s very easy for learning to become something which is spoon-fed.”

Many schools that employ outdoor learning use shade sails to protect pupils from the threat of sunburn.

These flexible and durable structures can block up to 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays and only need to be taken down for two months of the year.

Here at Shaded Nation we can provide pre-made shades, or bespoke designs created to meet your exact requirements.

We are experienced in providing products for a wide range of customers from large businesses and public buildings to homeowners.

If you think your school could benefit from one of our shade sails, take a look at our online store.

Get the perfect design with a bespoke shade sail

Here at Shaded Nation we know that you have specific needs that are different to everyone else.

For that reason, we are more than happy to create custom-made shade sails that are tailored to suit your exact requirements.

Indeed, bespoke shades account for around 80 per cent of our business, so you can rest assured that our in-house design and engineering team are extremely experienced.

Why us

We pride ourselves on supplying shade sails that are quite simply the best in the world. We only sell products from Australian manufacturer Sail Shade World, which is a pioneer in the industry and guarantees quality.

All shades are made with heavy-duty knitted shade cloth, with up to 340 gsm density and provide protection from up to 98.8 per cent of the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Instead of the usual turned and sewn hem that is used by many other companies, we fit extra strong seat belt webbing around the perimeter of all our shade sails, which makes the product more durable and reliable.

Personalisation

The great thing about opting for a custom-made shade is that you can have the product exactly how you want it. Shape, size and colour are all up to you and we will be happy to oblige.

You can also customise the shade by having your own words, such as your name, business name, brand name or website address woven into the webbing, which is an excellent way to promote a business.

Potential uses

Shade sails can be fitted in all sorts of environments and we have a truly diverse range of customers.

Our products are popular for residential use with people who want to add an attractive shaded spot to their garden or would like some privacy in a space that is overlooked.

Commercial uses are wide and varied. Our shades are popular with schools to protect children from the sun while playing or learning outside. They are also often installed to provide a shaded spot outside an office, at a sporting venue and a whole host of other locations.

Get the perfect design with a bespoke shade sail

Here at Shaded Nation we know that you have specific needs that are different to everyone else.

For that reason, we are more than happy to create custom-made shade sails that are tailored to suit your exact requirements.

Indeed, bespoke shades account for around 80 per cent of our business, so you can rest assured that our in-house design and engineering team are extremely experienced.

Why us

We pride ourselves on supplying shade sails that are quite simply the best in the world. We only sell products from Australian manufacturer Sail Shade World, which is a pioneer in the industry and guarantees quality.

All shades are made with heavy-duty knitted shade cloth, with up to 340 gsm density and provide protection from up to 98.8 per cent of the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Instead of the usual turned and sewn hem, or wire insert method that is used by many other companies, we fit extra-strong seat belt webbing around the perimeter of all our shade sails, which makes the product more durable, reliable and ensures a better tension, which is essential for the long life of any fabric structure.

Personalisation

The great thing about opting for a custom-made shade is that you can have the product exactly how you want it. Shape, size and colour are all up to you and we will be happy to oblige.

You can also customise the shade by having your own words, such as your name, business name, brand name or website address woven into the webbing, which is an excellent way to promote a business.

Potential uses

Shade sails can be fitted in all sorts of environments and we have a truly diverse range of customers.

Our products are popular for residential use with people who want to add an attractive shaded spot to their garden or would like some privacy in a space that is overlooked.

Commercial uses are wide and varied. Our shades are popular with schools to protect children from the sun while playing or learning outside. They are also often installed to provide a shaded spot outside an office, at a sporting venue and a whole host of other locations.