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Shaded Nation – Shade Sails

Category Archives: Safety In The Sun


How to use a garden sun shade in winter

One of the main reservations people have about installing a shade structure in their garden is what they will do with it in the winter months.

This is understandable, particularly in countries like the UK where sunshine can be restricted to just a few months of the year.

However, such fears are unfounded. If you buy the right shade – like the ones we provide at Shaded Nation – you’ll be investing in a quality product that can be used all year round.

To prove this point, we’ve listed just a few of the possible winter uses for one of our products below.

Shelter
The obvious use for a shade sail in the winter is as a means of shelter from the elements. Whether it’s wind, rain or snow, these structures can provide a protected spot that allows you to continue enjoying being out in the garden.

Smoking area
If your family contains a smoker, a shade structure can provide a handy spot under which they can smoke. It’s advisable for smoking to be carried out in the open air as it’s proven that inhaling second-hand smoke can lead to serious health problems. Smoking under a shade structure will help to protect the health of the entire family.

Special occasions
Whether it’s Bonfire Night or new year’s eve, there are a number of special occasions that occur in the winter months that call for people to spend time outside in the garden. A shade structure provides a sheltered spot in which friends and family can watch the bonfire or a fireworks display from a safe distance.

Sun safety
The main feature of our sun shades is that they provide up to 98.8 per cent protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Obviously, avoiding sunburn is much less of a concern in the winter, but it is still possible to get burnt at this time of year, especially if you have pale skin that is particularly vulnerable.

Installing a shade structure allows you to err on the side of caution and enjoy being outside regardless of what the sun is doing.

Why your koi pond needs a shade sail

There are few garden features as spectacular as a koi pond.

When done well they can bring a touch of oriental style to your home and are outdoor features that can be enjoyed by all of the family as well as friends and relatives.

However, it’s important a koi pond is properly maintained and there are two main reasons for this. Firstly, they represent an expensive investment and poor maintenance can lead to costly repairs.

Why your koi pond needs a shade sail

Secondly, and most importantly, koi ponds are a passion for many homeowners and can bring real pleasure to people’ lives, which means it’s important to ensure they are looked after.

An excellent way to protect your koi pond is to install a shade sail above it, as this provides a number of benefits.

Algae is the scourge of pond keepers across the world and can ruin the appearance of your pond if allowed to grow unchecked. A shade sail is an excellent way to halt the progress of this pesky pest.

Shade is proven to restrict the spread of algae and prevent your clear blue waters from being turned to a murky shade of green. Our shade sails are designed with style in mind and you can be sure the structure will complement the appearance of your pond nicely.

Other methods you can employ to hold back algae include adding more plants and keeping a low fish ratio and not overfeeding.

Tackling algae isn’t the only possible advantage of covering your pond with a sun shade. These structures may also help to protect your fish from predators like herons.

While there is no guarantee a shade structure will stop a heron visiting your pond, it may prevent them from seeing it while flying overhead.

A hungry heron can decimate a pond’s fish population and this can be distressing for pond owners from both a personal and financial point of view.

Other ways to deter these predators including netting, building a pond with steep vertical sides and using plants to provide fish with cover.

New skin cancer detection app developed

The whole team at Shaded Nation are committed to trying to raise awareness about skin cancer.

This disease is becoming worryingly common here in the UK and many people are being affected even though the chances of contracting the condition can be drastically reduced by just taking a few simple precautions to stay safe in the sun.

With this in mind, we were interested to hear that a team of students in India have developed a new mobile phone application that can detect skin cancer and other diseases.

New skin cancer detection app developed

New skin cancer detection app developed

Created at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, the app works on any smartphone and takes pictures of the skin before uploading them to a server where they can be assessed by health professionals, the Press Trust of India reports.

It is hoped this will make it easier to diagnose skin cancer, ulcers and other medical conditions, particularly in areas where it may be difficult for people to see a doctor in person.

Debdoot Sheet, who led the project, commented: “Being a portable and affordable solution, it can be used by trained healthcare workers to reach out to elderly and patients in mobility-restricted areas for healthcare delivery.”

The researchers said the app is 99 per cent accurate and they hope it will be used in hospitals and parts of the world where the level of health infrastructure is poor.

This is certainly an interesting development and if it helps to diagnose more cases of skin cancer that can only be good news, as catching the disease early is the best way to avoid it becoming fatal.

In an ideal world, this would be less of an issue as people would reduce their chances of contracting the condition if they took more precautions when out in the sun. Our shade sail structures, which are manufactured to block up to 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays, are one way to do this.

How to use a garden sun shade in winter

One of the main reservations people have about installing a shade structure in their garden is what they will do with it in the winter months.

This is understandable, particularly in countries like the UK where sunshine can be restricted to just a few months of the year.

However, such fears are unfounded. If you buy the right shade – like the ones we provide at Shaded Nation – you’ll be investing in a quality product that can be used all year round.

To prove this point, we’ve listed just a few of the possible winter uses for one of our products below.

Shade Sails in Garden

How to use a garden sun shade in winter

Shelter
The obvious use for a shade sail in the winter is as a means of shelter from the elements. Whether it’s wind, rain or snow, these structures can provide a protected spot that allows you to continue enjoying being out in the garden.

Smoking area
If your family contains a smoker, a shade structure can provide a handy spot under which they can smoke. It’s advisable for smoking to be carried out in the open air as it’s proven that inhaling second-hand smoke can lead to serious health problems. Smoking under a shade structure will help to protect the health of the entire family.

Special occasions
Whether it’s Bonfire Night or new year’s eve, there are a number of special occasions that occur in the winter months that call for people to spend time outside in the garden. A shade structure provides a sheltered spot in which friends and family can watch the bonfire or a fireworks display from a safe distance.

Sun safety
The main feature of our sun shades is that they provide up to 98.8 per cent protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Obviously, avoiding sunburn is much less of a concern in the winter, but it is still possible to get burnt at this time of year, especially if you have pale skin that is particularly vulnerable.

Installing a shade structure allows you to err on the side of caution and enjoy being outside regardless of what the sun is doing.

How to turn your garden Al Fresco

There’s something oh so continental about eating outdoors.

Enjoying some excellent food and drink in the open air with the sun shining down is one of life’s simple pleasures and it’s no surprise many people are desperate to recreate the Al Fresco dining experience in their own garden.

But how can you create the perfect outdoor eating environment in your own home? Read on for some of our top tips.

Setting
If you want to take your garden Al Fresco, it just won’t do to use the same old table and chairs you’ve had in the garden for years. Investing in a new stylish set will enhance the dining environment no end and make the whole experience more enjoyable.

Tables and chairs are the essentials, but there are other ways you can improve the setting of your outdoor dining area. Take lighting for example – effective use of light is one of the best ways to create an ambience and setting up an attractive light display in the garden can make you feel as if you’re spending the evening in a classy French or Italian restaurant rather than your own home.

Stay sheltered 
Of course, the one thing that holds Al Fresco dining back in the UK is the weather. Our climate is famously unpredictable and you’ll want to make sure your Al Fresco space is sheltered from the elements.

One of the best ways to achieve this is through a shade sail. When installed over your dining area, this structure will provide an attractive and practical means of shelter.

You’ll do most of your outdoor dining in the summer months when the sun is shining. A shade sail will keep you cool and you won’t need to worry about getting burnt. It will also provide protection against any wind and ensure you stay dry in the event of a brief shower.

Order your shade sail today and get ready to take your garden Al Fresco!

How to improve your garden this year

So, 2018 is underway and this is the time of year when many of us make new year’s resolutions that we hope will improve our lives over the next 12 months.

These can be anything from losing weight to giving up smoking. However, it’s likely there are a fair few people across the UK, and indeed the world, whose resolution will be to improve their garden.

So many gardens are left neglected and underused and a great way to make the most of 2018 is to turn your personal outdoor space into a pleasant environment in which you’ll be able to spend some quality time all year round.

How to improve your garden this year

How to improve your garden this year

But what can you do to improve your garden? Read on for a few of our top tips.

Greenery 
We’ve got green fingers here at Shaded Nation and love to see gardens with a wide range of plants. Whether it’s flowers, trees or planting your own vegetables, there’s plenty of things you can grow to bring a bit of greenery to your home.

Planting can be surprisingly fun and may even help you fulfil some other new year’s resolutions like losing weight!

Sitting and shelter
To make the most of your garden, you’ll need a place to sit and enjoy being outdoors. Investing in some garden furniture will allow you to do this and you’ll be able to have meals outside and invite friends and family over for Al Fresco dinner parties in the summer months.

Installing a shade sail structure will ensure your seating area remains protected from the sun and other elements.

Keep it wild
One of the best things about having a garden is that it can bring a little bit of the natural world into your own home. Whether it’s birds and butterflies or hedgehogs and foxes, you’d be surprised how much wildlife can be attracted to your outdoor space.

Keeping just one small corner of your garden ‘wild’ will help to boost your chances of seeing animals. All that’s required to do this is to allow natural plants to grow and leave the area as undisturbed as possible.

Consider a carport

Are you a car lover? If so you’ll want your treasured vehicle to be kept as safe and secure as possible.

However, this can sometimes be difficult, especially if you don’t have a garage in which to keep your car. If this problem applies to you, why not invest in a carport?

Our shade sails are an easy and affordable way to install one of these structures, which will provide your vehicle with some important protection.

 Consider a carport

Consider a carport

As the name suggests, the primary role of our products is to provide shade from the sun. Keeping your car out of direct sunlight will help to ensure it is cool for when you need to take a drive, as there’s nothing worse than getting into a stiflingly-hot vehicle when it’s already warm outside.

A shade-based carport will also provide your vehicle with protection from the rain and wind, which will reduce the chances of its paintwork and exterior being damaged.

Speaking of exterior damage, a carport will also give shelter from the scourge of motorists everywhere – bird mess. There are few things more annoying than heading out the car and finding it covered in horrible white spots. Using one of our shade structures as a carport eliminates this problem.

There are the main benefits of opting for a carport, but there’s a fair few other things you may find helpful as well. It can be used to store items that need protection from the elements and can even double up as place to sit out of the sun’s glare when the car isn’t present.

What’s more, a carport could also boost the value of your home. A property that has somewhere sheltered to keep a vehicle will be more appealing than one without and this could help you when trying to sell your home.

If you’d like to know more about how a shade sail could be used as a carport, feel free to get in touch with us.

What to consider when designing a children’s playground – part one

A common use for our shade sail structures is to provide cover for children’s playgrounds at schools, nurseries and other locations.

With this in mind, we’ve decided to put together some blogs looking at the top things you should consider when designing a new play area for kids.

 

What to consider when designing a children's playground - part two

What to consider when designing a children’s playground – part one

Safety
When creating a children’s playground the primary concern must always be the health and wellbeing of the youngsters and there are a few things to consider if you are going to provide a safe environment.

Take flooring for example – this needs to be soft and smooth to reduce the chances of children getting hurt should they fall. Specific playground surfaces made of either rubber or tiles can be purchased, while artificial grass is also a good, low-maintenance option.

Other things to think about safety wise include ensuring none of the playground equipment has sharp edges and that anything that requires climbing – such as slides – have the necessary rails in place to minimise the risk of children falling.

Shelter
Another way to secure the safety of a playground is by ensuring it is sheltered. On a summers day this will prevent kids from being at risk of sunburn and sunstroke, while it will also ensure metal playground equipment stays cool, as these items can become surprisingly hot when exposed to direct sunlight.

Shelter will keep the rain of the playground and this reduces the chances of the environment becoming slippery, which can easily lead to accidents. Furthermore, protection from the elements will mean playground equipment lasts longer and requires less maintenance.

Many schools opt for our shade structures as a means of providing this shelter due to their combination of high-level protection, durability and affordability. We supply post protectors, which can be used to ensure there is no risk of children hurting themselves by colliding with the steel posts used to support the shade.

You can see an example of how a shade sail structure can be used for a playground here.

Why you should opt for a commercial grade shade sail

Commercial customers make up a very important part of our trade here at Shaded Nation.

Whether it’s schools and nurseries, or shops and restaurants, we are used to undertaking large-scale products all the way from design through to installation.

As commercial clients are so important to us, we offer a product that is specifically manufactured with this type of customer in mind.

Why you should opt for a commercial grade shade sail

Why you should opt for a commercial grade shade sail

Our commercial grade shades are the best on the market and the perfect addition to your business, school or property. Here is a quick rundown of some of the main benefits of this product.

All the mod cons
Our commercial structures are more than just a sun shade – they use all of the latest innovations to provide the greatest level of protection, reliability and durability available.

The UV-stablised high density polyethelyne fabric we use is rot resistant and won’t absorb moisture. High quality double-lock stitch construction minimises the chances of a tear occurring, while colour-keyed seatbelt edge webbing provides extra security.

Meanwhile, tap yarn is weaved into our shades, offering excellent UV protection that can block up to 98.8 per cent of the sun’s harmful rays. These are advanced features you just won’t find in a bog-standard sun shade.

Truly bespoke
Our commercial grade shades are fully bespoke, meaning you get the exact structure you need. We are happy to work to your individual requirements and will provide a complete project management service to guide you through the process.

Pretty much any size or shape you can think of can be manufactured and there’s 14 different colours to choose from.

Built to last
Buying of our commercial shades is an investment for the future. These structures have a life expectancy of between ten and 15 years meaning they easily pay for themselves over the course of time.

In the unlikely event that something does go wrong, the first ten years are covered by a full warranty.

Want to know more? Find the full specifications for our commercial shades here.

What to consider when designing a children’s playground – part two

If you read part one of our blog about designing a children’s playground, you’ll know that safety and shelter should be your top concerns.

However, once these boxes have been ticked, you can turn your attention to the next most important part of a playground – fun.

What to consider when designing a children's playground - part two

What to consider when designing a children’s playground – part two

After all, the purpose of a playground is to allow children to enjoy themselves in the open air and you want to give them as much opportunity to do so as possible. Exactly how you do this is largely dependent on space and budget, but here’s a few tips you might find useful.

The first thing you need to consider is just who exactly will be using the playground. If it will be limited to a particular age range that makes things a lot easier as the area can be tailored towards the group’s specific needs.

A mixed age range is trickier as you need to cater for all children, but don’t want kids to come into contact with equipment that isn’t suitable for their age. In this case, it may be advisable to construct some sort of fence or barrier that will be used to keep children in the right area for their age.

When it comes to equipment, the classics are always a good place to start. Swings, slides, roundabouts and climbing frames come in a variety of sizes that are suitable for a wide range of ages and kids just can’t get enough of them.

If you don’t have the space for large playground equipment or can’t stretch your budget that far, there’s plenty of more affordable options you can go for.

Sand pits are great for younger children and are reasonably inexpensive to install. What’s more we can even provide a custom-made sand pit cover.

Another cheap way to make a playground fun is drawing a hopscotch design on the ground, or you could go one step further and draw an entire board game like snakes and ladders. This will take a little bit of effort, but it won’t cost much and kids will love it.