10 TOP TIPS FOR kid-friendly gardening
The garden is a wonderful place to learn and play in a safe environment
1 Pick and eat Grow tumbling tomatoes and strawberries in pots, easy to grow and a thrill for children to pick and eat.
2 Wildlife watch Encourage birds with feeders, baths and nesting boxes, and insects with a home-made ‘insect hotel’ – place near an aphid infestation! Ladybirds and hoverflies may use it for hibernation or solitary bees as a place to lay eggs.
3 Secret hideaways If you live near to a park, consider doing away with large, high-maintenance lawns
for football, creating winding pathways through planting instead, that lead to secret places to hide and play.
4 Be eco-friendly Have a compost bin for garden and kitchen waste, introducing kids to concepts of recycling and sustainability.
5 By the water’s edge Children learn so much about wildlife in a garden and, if supervised, ponds make a great spot for pond dipping and observing dragonflies. A deck provides a place to lie down for a close-up view of the pond’s inhabitants.
6 Safe and sound Take sensible precautions when young children are about. Secure lids on water butts, and keep sharp tools and all chemicals locked away.
7 Grow herbs Make a simple herb garden using tough perennials, such as chives, thyme, rosemary, bay and sage. They won’t even need watering through the summer.
8 Topping idea Place cane toppers on top of shorter plant supports, so children cannot accidentally poke themselves in the eye.
9 Shady places Make sure that there is shade – in a new garden, observe the way the sun moves round in every season to see how the light falls at different times.
10 Thanks for the memories Ensure children associate a garden with fun activities by organising the occasional treasure hunt or Easter egg Hunt.