Wooden bark or Gravel???

Gerry, Need your opinion please. I am putting down shrubbery beds and have received different feedback – for a low growing shrubbery bed (54ft long x 24ft wide) would you put down gravel or wooden bark to cover a weed blanket? People tell me gravel is better as wooden bark fades after the first year and looks dirty…I want it to look nice but with very little maintenance….as I am conscious that really it is only going to need to look well until the shrubs develop and fill up over a few years….