Are you looking for inspiration on activities for kids outdoors this autumn? These simple, low-cost ideas for outdoor play in autumn will make it easier for you to get outside and have fun. There's also a free printable autumn bucket list to grab - scroll down for more details! There's so much to enjoy outdoors in autumn. The weather is still mild, the sunlight is at a fabulous angle, and nature is visibly changing everywhere you ...
First bike memories & bikes through the decades with Halfords
Do you remember your first bike? It’s such a classic gift to receive as a child, isn’t it - and whether your parents painstakingly wrapped it, led you outside with your eyes closed to find it, or just hid it under a blanket, nothing quite compares to the excitement of that first ‘big’ present. Halfords asked me to join in with their Bikes through the decades feature and share my own first bike memories. I was a mid-70’s baby (showing my age ...
A transformation with the Cif community clean project
Do you have a local community centre close to where you live? If I’m being honest, I didn’t really give our local community centre and halls any thought until I became a parent. It was only when our eldest was born that I started to have any contact with them, but before I knew it, toddler groups, birthday parties, after-school clubs and weekly yoga classes had turned me into a regular user. Maybe I need some kind of loyalty card! These ...
Talking family gardening with Shedstore
Last week I had a lovely time chatting with Shedstore about family gardening. My interview was for the 'Garden Life' section of the Shedstore website, which shares articles from throughout the gardening community. Here's what we covered. When did you first form an interest in gardening? When I was about 7 years old; my dad gave me my own little patch at his allotment and I was hooked. I remember loving how hands-on it was, and finding the ...
Exploring the plant shop at Woodthorpe Grange Park
Local parks and green spaces are fantastic places to spend some outdoor time with the kids, and there are often hidden treasures to be found on-site. On our trips to local parks we’ve stumbled across all manner of things to explore, including willow tunnels, tree trails, wooden carvings and sensory gardens. Last week I came across the gardening equivalent of a child in a sweet shop: plants for sale! Woodthorpe Grange Park in Nottingham is ...
Blog it Forward: support vulnerable children with a Faux Ho Ho
At this time of year we're all so focused on celebrating Christmas that it can be easy to forget about those who won't be having such a good time while we're enjoying ourselves. In the midst of all the indulgence I think it's so important to give ourselves a bit of a reality check and try to give back - and if we can make it fun at the same time then so much the better. Last week I spent a lovely afternoon with my Nottingham blogging friends, ...
Wild About Gardens Week: supporting our native wildlife
If you enjoy spending time outdoors and in your garden, you’re most likely aware of the fact that our native wildlife is in decline. You’ve probably seen news stories about rapid declines in bee populations, vanishing meadow land and over-tidy gardens discouraging wildlife visitors. A recent research study by 25 wildlife organisations found that in the past 50 years, two thirds of our plant and animal species have seen declines - quite a bleak ...
Exploring family arts in Nottingham
Over the weekend we were invited to take part in a fabulous blogger event, celebrating the wonderful family arts venues in Nottingham. Today I'm sharing some of the brilliant things we got up to, hope it inspires you! The event was hosted by Family Arts Network Nottingham, to celebrate the launch of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival and showcase the family events and activities Nottingham's arts and culture organisations have to offer. We ...
Tips and ideas for making the most of your harvest
If you grow your own food on any level, from a small patch in your garden to a full-on allotment plot, Autumn is very much the season of harvesting. It’s hard to beat freshly-picked produce, but the reality is often that we have more than we can possibly eat. For us this year the gluts have been courgettes and tomatoes, we’ve been pretty much up to our ears in them! For me, the pleasure in growing our own fruit and vegetables is not only being ...
Savings on grow your own with grow2eat.com
If you grow your own fruit and vegetables you’ll already be saving lots of money compared to buying the same crops from a shop - as well as enjoying much fresher, tastier produce. I’ve recently discovered you can also find lots of savings and special offers on grow your own at grow2eat.com. Whether you’re a member of an allotment association or gardening club, or just an individual who loves to grow their own food, you can join the grow2eat ...