A host of family activites unveiled for Cardiff show

Try fossil hunting, make a bee hotel, or get gardening with Blue Peter's Chris Collins - there's plenty for families at this year's show

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff will be hosting a range of interactive events to ensure that it's the perfect day out for the whole family. It's a great chance for children and parents to get their hands dirty and learn about the fun of gardening!

Look out also for a trail around the show with a kids' map highlighting the best places for children to enjoy as they explore the showground.

Seed planting with Chris Collins

Head over to our seed planting area where Chris Collins, the Blue Peter gardener, is holding seed planting sessions throughout the show with support from the RSPB team. Children can get learning and take home pots of seeds they have planted themselves.

Schools Wheelbarrow Competition
Which is your favourite ‘Wheely Good Read’ wheelbarrow? From Treasure Island to Harry Potter, from Peter Rabbit to The Hobbit and Cinderella, there are some very creative entries this year in our children’s book-themed wheelbarrow competition.

Try arts & crafts
Enjoy art and crafts in the Cardiff Ranger Service marquee, all themed around wetland habitats. There will be a display on the plants and animals that live in the wetlands showing the importance of these habitats, plus a quiz to try.

Go fossil hunting
The National Museum of Wales will have a large trailer full of shale for visitors, especially the younger ones, to explore for fossils. See amazing specimens on show, including garden birds, insects, plants and bats.

Make a bee hotel
Visit the Friends of the Earth stand highlighting bee conservation in the Learn and Grow area. Find out about bee-friendly gardening and the plants and flowers you can grow to create one, then make a bee hotel to take home.

Discover the craft of bodging...
Inspired by the beautiful local forests around the school, The Heronsbridge School Artful Bodger’s Garden demonstrates the ancient craft of bodging; where the bodger would buy a stand of trees from the landowner and cut them down to make chair legs and other forestry products. Feel the ambience of this enchanting woodland garden first hand by walking along its woodland path. The garden includes seasonal woodland planting with primroses, ferns, and other local plants.

Wildlife in a small garden
Find out how to create a small, urban wildlife garden with The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. This wildlife-friendly haven will have bird boxes, willow butterflies, a nectar café, insect hotels and a bee hive and that’s just for starters! Hands-on activities including insect box making will be taking place.

Tree climbing
The Cardiff City Council arboriculture team demonstration attracts tree climbers! Children can have a go at tree climbing in the historic arboretum of Bute Park obtaining unique views of the RHS show while learning to climb safely under the supervision of Cardiff's expert tree climbers. It’s a great confidence builder and provides a real sense of achievement as climbs can be quite challenging as well as being fun!

The Owl Sanctuary
Children will love the ever popular owls from festival park who will be returning to the show. Head on over to visit our Owls at the Owl Sanctuary and learn all you need to know about these beautiful birds

RHS Potting Bench
New for 2013, the ‘RHS Potting Bench’ will be at the heart of Floral Marquee 2 and will provide short, hands-on sessions and demonstrations. It’s your opportunity to meet the growers and discover top tips from nursery specialists!

Get planting!
Head over to our children's seed planting area to try gardening from scratch, then take home planted up pots of seeds. 

Other attractions include:

• Out To Learn Willow Weaving sessions
• Storytelling with tales from the Enchanted Garden; Spring tales from Wales and around the world, tales that remind us how precious the earth is. Come and listen to the stories, share your own and help make some new ones together.
• Children’s gardening-related craft activities including face painting!
• Fun street theatre walkabouts including Hugo Bushy Babcock and his giant psychic giant Leek along with Gerry the Gerbera flower and Bob the Butterfly!