Robinia is a Hardwood Timber that is robust enough to stand up to the elements the British weather can throw at it. Due to its extreme hardness and toughness, it is difficult to work and tends to warp. So it was used only in mining, for example, to reinforce tunnels. After all, robinia wood is sturdier than oak! These days, robinia is often used as a teak wood substitute, mainly for garden furniture, playground equipment, and hydraulic engineering. ESP Play Parks specialise in Manufacture, Design and Installation of Robinia Timber Play Equipment for use in public playgrounds and play areas throughout the UK.

The trees can grow to a height of 24m to 27m. The bole is often twisted or fluted with a diameter of 0.6m to 1m. In continental Europe, the trees are often coppiced, providing smaller, fast grown sections. Older, larger trees often have a rotten heart. Seasoned Robinia wood is highly decay resistant and won’t rot, even when submerged in soil. During the 18th century its decay resistance became the stuff of legends, and in folklore was said to last “2 years longer than stone”. Consequently, Robinia became the timber of choice for the American and British navies for ‘pinning ships’ and for the manufacture of gates and fenceposts. Given the extreme durability of Robinia wood, it will come as no surprise that ESP Play Parks makes good use of the timber in their play equipment.