The purpose of the bark chips on the ground is not to decompose, but to form a protective layer above the ground to prevent it from drying out and to prevent weeds from growing, thereby avoiding the need of frequent weeding (the main reason I use it). If you buy the more expensive kinds, it's also aesthetic.
On the negative side, during sumer, slugs and snails will make their home in it.
Bark will decomposes, though slower, so it does add a bit to the nutrient and humus level of the soil. If that's your main concern, hay is indeed definitely better.
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With the plastic covering it, I don't think there's a problem with the hay rotting - I use hay a lot here. Even if it rots some, it's just that much closer to becoming a very good mulch when you disassemble the setup - all of my nanners are mulched with hay already anyway. Leaves would be just as good, or both. Wood chips take longer to decompose so I avoid that in my mulch, personally.
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