Keep the kids busy this summer!
Hands up who has already heard from their children “I’m booooorrreed!!” The summer holidays are a great break for everyone but keeping children busy can be a struggle. We’ve pulled together some ideas to keep them happy, entertained and out in the garden…
Den-busters
Building dens as child is a favourite memory of the team here at the Plant Market. Give them some sheets, old blankets, pegs and even canes to create their own wee hideaway. They can fill it with toys, games, books and play to their hearts content. It can be as simple as a teepee from tree branches or as grand as a mansion!
Bug B&B
Bugs love somewhere safe, dark and dry to stay – it’s a great way to inspire your budding builders to create a wildlife home. Use twigs, stones and logs to build it then use lolly sticks to build bridges or ladders. They can even create a spot for spiders by twining sticks together and leaving in spot where there are plenty flies zooming past.
The Big Butterfly count
This amazing event takes place between 15 July and 7 August. In the last forty years, there has been declines in over the UK has witnessed declines in over three-quarters of the UK’s butterflies so we need to understand how to address this. It couldn’t be easier to take part in the Count.
Get ready by visiting Big Butterfly Count: common species to identify and how to take part | Countryfile.com then download an ID chart Between Friday 15 July and Sunday 7 August, find a sunny spot and spend 15 minutes counting the butterflies you see.
Submit your sightings online at bigbutterflycount.org
You could even encourage the children to look out for other insects and wildlife while they’re butterfly spotting and note down what they see.
Feed our feathered friends
Encouraging wildlife back into our gardens has never been so important. There are lots of ways to do this but why not ask the children to build bird feeders? It’s really easy and is likely to encourage a variety of species into the garden for everyone to enjoy spotting.
You can use either oranges or apples for this. Cut the fruit in half, scoop out the inside then fill the hole with a mixture of bird seed and peanut butter. You can then hang them from tree branches in the garden using twine.
It can become a bigger project for older children too. You can ask them to;
- Make a checklist of the birds they see or take photos
- Identify them in a book or online
- Draw pictures of them in a nature journal
- Take notice of the different colours, songs and behaviours of each type of bird.
Grow Your Own
The team here at The Plant Market are big advocates of growing your own fruit and vegetables. Good fruit and veg to get started include cherry tomatoes, runner beans, raspberries, strawberries and even herbs like chives, mint and radishes. They can then create their own fruit juice to enjoy in their den!
You don’t need to buy new pots, you can use empty yoghurt pots, or roll newspaper round an empty jar. By reusing and repurposing items, you’re not only helping the environment but teaching the children about sustainability too.
Pop in and chat to one of the team, we’ll be able to help you with various ideas and the right type of seeds to be planting at this time of year.
