Tips for enjoying the garden in the school holidays

Tips for enjoying the garden in the school holidays: School’s out so let the outdoor adventures begin! It’s the perfect time to power down the devices and soak up the sunshine. There’s no better way to ignite curious young minds than by exploring nature and getting hands-on with the amazing world of plants and wildlife, all just outside your door.

The STIGA team have loads of great tips for ways in which the whole family can make the most of their gardens!

1) Kids’ Garden Fashion Show

Nothing is quite as much fun as a homegrown fashion show! Make the garden path the runway for the day and get creative by making outfits from clothes featuring flowers, trees, bees, butterflies, ladybirds, and other garden elements.

Or why not try to make some garden outfits inspired by fruits, vegetables, and herb fabrics (e.g strawberry dresses, carrot trousers, mint capes). Maybe you can even pop some herbs and flowers that you have grown into a straw hat for good measure?

2) Grow a Butterfly Shaped Butterfly Patch

It’s the perfect time to grow a butterfly…to attract butterflies!

Pick the Perfect Spot: Needs lots of sun and a place where you can see the butterfly shape from above!

Make the Butterfly Shape: Use chalk to draw 2 big top wings, 2 smaller bottom wings, 1 narrow middle body.

Choose Your Plants: Top Wings – Tall Flowers such as Echinacea, Cornflowers, Black-eyed Susan. Bottom Wings – Shorter Flowers such as Zinnias, Lavender, Marigolds. Body – Parsley, Dill, Fennel (for baby butterflies!)

Extra Fun Ideas:

Try night-blooming flowers to see moths
Add a fun sign about your butterfly garden
Take photos each season to see changes!

3) Grow your own pizza toppings

Get kids excited about gardening and cooking with this hands-on adventure! Turn garden time into a fun way to teach responsibility, observation, and patience. Then head to the kitchen and turn what you grow into something delicious — from garden to pizza table!