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Natural World Play Mats

Step into the Natural World range from Hippo Mat™ — road play mats for toy cars inspired by real habitats. Each design is map-style, easy to read, and made for imaginative, screen-free stories at floor level.

Pick a habitat, drive the routes, and discover new “missions” every time — from animal rescues to explorer runs and scenic road trips through wild landscapes.

Made for real play (and real little hands!).

  • Wide, drivable roads - we build the world around the driving experience, so cars can move smoothly without clutter.
  • Soft & grippy - a smooth microfiber velvet surface with a non-slip latex backing helps keep the mat in place during energetic play.
  • Map-style learning - clear zones and visual landmarks encourage vocabulary, storytelling, and early-world knowledge through play.
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FAQ

Natural World Play Mats are illustrated play mats inspired by real habitats, wildlife, and outdoor environments. They are designed to give children a fun place to play while helping them discover animals, landscapes, and the natural world through everyday imaginative play.

Natural World Play Mats are designed mainly for children aged 2–6. The layouts are clear and easy to explore, with simple, recognisable features that support imaginative play, early learning, and storytelling.

A Natural World Play Mat focuses on habitats, wildlife, and discovery rather than only streets and buildings. It gives children a different kind of play experience, with more nature, more observation, and more opportunities to talk about animals, plants, seasons, and the outdoors.

Yes. The Natural World range is inspired by real natural environments and recognisable habitat features. Each mat is created to feel believable, educational, and full of things to notice, while still being simple and playful for young children.

Children can begin to learn about habitats, animals, landscapes, and how different parts of nature fit together. The mats also support language development, storytelling, observation, and conversations about the natural world during play.

Children can begin to learn about habitats, animals, landscapes, and how different parts of nature fit together. The mats also support language development, storytelling, observation, and conversations about the natural world during play.

Yes. Children can create their own stories, journeys, and wildlife adventures as they play. The open-ended layout helps them invent scenes, role-play discoveries, and return to the mat again and again in different ways.

Each Natural World Play Mat is a premium printed play mat made for everyday play, featuring a microfiber velvet surface with a non-slip latex backing. It’s designed to be giftable, durable, and easy to use on the floor at home.

Each mat is 100cm × 100cm. The embroidered stitching edges are approximately 1cm thick, and the main surface is around 0.6cm thick.

When shipped to you, it is rolled up into 114cm × 10.2cm cylinder tube.

That depends on the design, but Natural World Play Mats can include features such as woodlands, wetlands, trails, rivers, coasts, viewing points, habitats, and wildlife-inspired details. Each mat is designed to feel rich and interesting without becoming cluttered.

Yes. They work especially well with toy animals, small figures, nature-themed toys, and loose parts for imaginative play. Many children also enjoy combining them with vehicles, depending on the design.

Yes. The illustrations are designed to be clear, simple, and inviting for young children. The aim is to give enough detail to spark curiosity while keeping the mat easy to read during play.

Yes. Natural World Play Mats work well in early years settings because they support imaginative play, discussion, and topic-based learning around animals, habitats, and nature.

Yes. It can support everyday learning through play by giving parents and children an easy way to talk about wildlife, habitats, seasons, journeys, and observation in a relaxed, natural way.

Not at all. They are ideal for children who enjoy animals and nature, but they also appeal to children who love storytelling, small-world play, exploration, and discovering new details.

Yes. Natural World Play Mats are designed for family use and made to be practical for everyday play. For full material and care details, please check the individual product listing.

Yes — for everyday mess, you can wipe the surface clean using warm soapy water.

It is not advised to use harsh chemicals or machine wash.

Yes. The designs are made to feel playful and attractive while still looking calm and well-considered in the home, making them a lovely addition to bedrooms, playrooms, or learning spaces.

Challenge Unlocked

Share Hippo Mat™. Help More Children Play.

Every Hippo Mat™ helps fund play and learning for children through Reg’s Pledge.

Would you share Hippo Mat™ with someone who’d love it too? A friend, family member, school, nursery, or local group is a great place to start.

The more people who discover Hippo Mat™, the more good Reg’s Pledge can do.

  • Share your memories of the landmarks you can see on your favourite Hippo Mat™
  • Who is Hippo Mat™ a great gift idea for?
  • Did you have a similar toy in the past?
  • What do you think about this idea in general?
No sign-up needed. Just a quick share.