TP Wooden Potting Bench Review

Reviewed by H Chan

What a wonderful product! Perfect for those little ones who love to help in the garden and a fantastic way to keep them busy in the summer!

Created by award winning company TP, this children’s potting bench is aimed at children aged 3 and up, so was perfect for my 6 year old who loves to help me in the garden. I was worried that it might be a little small for him and aimed at younger children however it turned out to be a great size for him and also a great size for my 3 year old nephew too when he came round to play! It is very sturdy and well made so I have no worries about it toppling over when leaned on.

The potting bench arrived flat packed in a carboard box, no unnecessary packaging which I loved. Inside were the instructions, bags of fixings and the wood which had predrilled holes and each piece was numbered. This made it so much easier to follow instructions. I am not the fastest with flat pack, but there was no need to worry. Alone, with a little bit of help from Mr 6 passing me the pieces I needed, (even he could follow them they were that easy) it was up in less than an hour, and that was also with me using a standard screwdriver and not a power tool.

I was very impressed. The wood is from FSC certified forests and carries the FSC logo. It actually smelled amazing too! The wood was good quality with no knots, no missing pieces, everything was super smooth from start to finish.
The little bench has a splash tray, ideal for catching water and soil, but also for holding bits and bobs like plants for repotting. There is a handy tray with holes in it to hold tools, and three pots in the side in pot holders. These are standard pots, so once used the holes will fit other (garden centre) pots. This made it really easy for Mr 6 to plant as we all know, little ones try to hold many things in one go and often make a bit of a mess. The well planned space really helped him, so he was happy. He also liked that the little tray to hold tools could slide along over the splash tray.  On the left of the bench is a planter. We filled it with carrots! I think that the addition of a see through wall was genius, and it can be hidden by a slide in wooden panel to keep the seeds in the dark. We can’t wait to see those carrots growing through the little *window*. So far, my son has checked every day. I think we might have to add some worms.
On the picture on the box it shows a watering can and little tools, these do not come with the bench but I feel there should be an option to add them on when purchasing. However, use what you have, child size tools or a table spoon and a wooden spatula work just as well.

The only problem, if there was to be one, is that the tub for holding and dispensing water is held on with screws sticking out of the wood. With the rest of the item being so well planned and made, this let it down a little as it is very easily knocked off, or the screws easy to miss by a child trying to put it back on once filled with water. Maybe some sort of peg would work better, although this is an easy fix at home so didn’t really cause any proper issues. We left off the screws to hold the tools, as they looked like they would scratch a hand trying to play with the water jug. In the future I might use a covered peg which would be less sharp.

I really liked this item, I am not sure on the longevity of it for those easily bored as once the planter is full there isn’t really much to do with it unless you use it for potting up and replanting (which we have been doing over the week we have had it) so those who enjoy this kind of play would get lots out of it.

It would be great in smaller spaces as it doesn’t take up too much room, so ideal for balconies and yards as well. It would actually be just as fun inside for messy play, filled with sand! I think it would also be fantastic for schools or nurseries due to the nature of seeing where our food comes from.

The TP website is quite informative. I discovered that TP have been creating well designed toys in the UK for over 60 years. Each item has a guarantee too. The learning zone section gives advice on product care and explains where they materials are sourced and collected, and how designs are made. I like this in a company, as I feel more comfortable knowing that they care enough to share their processes.

Rating: My son, my nephew and I give this item 5 out of 5 stars and would recommend it for gifting or for educational purposes.

RRP and Buy link:
You can find the TP Potting Bench here for £109.99 with next day delivery available. I feel the price point a little on the higher side, however it is a very good quality item from an ethical company who cares for education and high quality products. They sell a wide range of outdoor toys on their page. You can even find the seesaw owned by Prince Louis!