This is a collaborative post in partnership with bite away® If you enjoy spending time outdoors with the family, this bite away® giveaway is definitely one for you! The summer months are usually the peak time of year for outdoor adventures. Unfortunately that can mean we’re more exposed to biting and stinging insects. We’ve certainly had our fair share of bites and stings on family days out, and from experience I know that being able ...
Growing sunflowers in a pot: fun gardening for kids
Are you growing plants with the kids this year? If you're looking for easy seeds to grow with children it's hard to beat growing sunflowers in a pot. And now is a great time to get planting! As well as producing seriously impressive blooms, sunflower seeds are easy for little hands to deal with, and pretty low maintenance to grow. They're also brilliant for local wildlife; the flowers are great for bees and other pollinating ...
The importance of green space in London
Collaborative post When people first think about London, usually it is of the busy streets, the major tourist attractions, and the tube. London is a major metropolitan city, but it also has many large, beautiful green spaces which are hugely important to the capital in a number of different ways. Cleaner Air One of the main reasons that green space in London is so important is that it helps to provide cleaner air. This is vital ...
60 fun garden activities for when you’re stuck at home with the kids
If you're stuck at home with the kids, you're probably in need of some boredom-busting inspiration. Here's a great list of 60 fun things to do in your garden to keep kids busy and get them outside. Scroll down for online resources and recommended reads too. Things to do in the garden when stuck at home with the kids 1. Grow your own salad from Growing Family 2. Recycled garden markers from Pink Stripey Socks 3. DIY slate bunting ...
50 fun ideas to get kids gardening
If you're keen to keep the kids busy and active, I've got lots of great kids gardening ideas to inspire and occupy them! Children make very natural gardeners in my experience. They love hands-on activities, they’re curious about nature and the world around them, and they generally relish the opportunity to get grubby! Gardening caters for all of this, and right from the toddler stage it’s perfectly possible for kids to get stuck ...
How to sow seeds with kids: tips to make it easy and fun
Are you growing seeds with the kids this year? It's always a big hit with my two, in fact it's probably their all-time favourite gardening job. I can see why. There's the Jack & the Beanstalk effect of planting a seed and seeing it magically turn into a plant, the outdoorsy-ness of the whole thing, the grown-up feeling such responsibility gives them, and of course the all-important getting grubby element. How to sow seeds with ...
How to make twig-wrapped flower pots
If, like us, you have an ever-growing stick collection, this is the perfect nature craft for you! Sticks and twigs are just brilliant for crafting, and this little project turns them into a lovely homemade gift. All you need is a plant pot, some string, and a little plant to pop in when you're finished. The idea is to create a length of tied-together twigs that you then fasten around the pot. Start off by measuring each stick against ...
4. The 10 minute gardener: quick gardening in February
If you always feel like you don't have enough time for gardening, or just need some guidance on what to focus on each month, this is the series for you! Read on for tips and ideas on quick gardening jobs for February. While January was a low-input month in the garden, we spent a lot of time planning, sketching and dreaming. The kids chose what to grow in their plots and I sorted out my seed order. Now the end of winter is ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in February
We’re almost there…. February is underway and spring is just around the corner. I still want it to hurry up though! It really won’t be long before I’m up to my neck in packets of seed and fussing over my labelled pots like a mother hen. But the fact remains that it’s still winter, and most plants just won’t tolerate being started off until the weather warms up a bit and the light improves. That said, there are some that will ...
Gardening with children in winter: quick and easy growing seeds to plant
We’ve started the seed planting for this year, hurrah! Sowing seeds is my kids favourite gardening job; it never fails to grab their attention and we always have a really great time doing it. Usually a messy time too, but that goes with the territory! Now, you may be thinking “But it’s still freezing outside, no way could we start growing tender little seedlings” - and yes, if you planted most seeds outdoors at this time of year you’d ...