Express & Star

Orders flooding in for mud kitchens couple

A Halesowen couple making their own ‘mud kitchens’ have been flooded with orders from across the UK just weeks after launching a new venture aiming to get more children playing outdoors.

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Becky and Dave Roberts

Puddy Muddles Mud Kitchens is the brainchild of Becky and Dave Roberts, selling their own hand-crafted outdoor play stations made from reclaimed pallets.

Research shows children today spend half the time their parents did playing outside but a growing trend for mud kitchens – which come complete with kitchen utensils and a mixing bowl for messy garden play – is helping to buck that trend.

Puddy Muddles started when Dave, who works in gym equipment sales, built a mud kitchen for their daughter from spare pallets in their Halesowen garden. After catching the eye of friends and family on social media, the couple started taking commissions – and have since been inundated with orders from customers as far afield as Liverpool.

Now Dave and Becky, who recently left a long career of 18 years working in hospitality, catering and events management to focus on their new family venture, are hoping to get more children playing outside as the business grows.

Becky said: “There’s been a real growth in mud kitchens in recent years, not just in the garden but in nurseries and schools too. We all know there are benefits to getting our children off the sofa, away from the TV screen and playing outside, but it seems not enough of us are willing to brave the dirt and mud like we used to.

“We want people to embrace the outdoors and play, whatever the weather – and our Puddy Muddles Mud Kitchens let them do just that. They’re safe, imaginative, natural and long lasting - and there are even health benefits too, as research suggests playing outside helps build stronger immune systems and can reduce obesity.”

Dave and Becky make the mud kitchens using skills learnt from previous house renovations, before sanding them down to make sure they are safe for children. They can even be personalised with a child’s name and painted in any colour.

Becky adds: “It’s a real team effort to build them. I source, strip and sand down the wood, Dave builds the units, I give them a final sand, add the accessories and engrave the front with a personalised message or name. Even our three year old daughter has been known to help out.

“It’s been really nice to all get involved and it’s great to be able to launch something positive as a family. Our ultimate goal is to get more children playing outside, because there’s no better way to spend a childhood!”