Inspire children with family activities at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
Step inside the Green Fields area for fun-filled gardening inspiration for all the family at this year’s RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
Whether you wanted informative science-based learning, a charming activity to entertain the youngsters, or to be inspired by what gardening has been done in schools, this was the place to be.
For the crafty at heart, there was soap-making sessions with the award-winning Ruth Romano or wordworking with willow and hazel with the Woodlland Skills Centre.
You could get your hands dirty with the former Blue Peter gardening guru, the Skinny Jean Gardener or make a mini-meadow in a pot with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
For those who needed to burn off a little energy there were a host of outdoor activities with the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust with forest school-style activities.
And for budding scientists there was the Natural History Museum who showed what the microscopic life below ground looked like, extracted DNA from strawberries and ran exciting workshops with LEGO.
Meanwhile schools which signed up for the
RHS Campaign for School Gardening created small spaces on the theme ‘coming together’ and focused on environmental and wildlife-friendly gardening.
Pupils at St Vincent’s School – A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs in Liverpool was one which found gardening particularly important over the past 18 months.
Their plot was a reflection of what they have done during the pandemic; growing their own fruit and vegetables and sharing the produce with the wider community, an invaluable experience for partially sighted and blind children.
“The children have designed a very simple garden to try and get across what they have done during lockdown,” David Swanston, vice principal of the school said.
“For most people, you couldn’t go out and mix with family and friends because of lockdown. In reality, that’s the life of a blind child.”
As well as starting the youngsters on a lifelong rewarding gardening journey, it brings together children who might not otherwise spend time together. The school caters for pupils from primary school age right up to post-16 and gardening brings the older ones together with the younger, an opportunity not normally afforded to them.
The gardening club also shares its produce with local charities and making soup for community groups giving the children further opportunities to meet people.
Some of the school gardens
Gardening for health and wellbeing
“Gardening is extremely important,” Mr Swanston said. “It’s given them a sense of responsibility and also takes their mind away from the pandemic and the stresses of lockdown. It has been a really positive experience.
“It’s a double win for the staff – they get to see the children really benefit from this project and also be outdoors which is really good for their health and wellbeing.”
There were a total of 13 schools at RHS Tatton Park, all of whom are part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.
Here are all the exhibitors in the Green Fields area:
Squeaky clean
Award-winning soap maker Ruth Romano is running demonstrations on Wednesday and Sunday. Learn how to make soap from nourishing plant-based ingredients using traditional techniques.
ruthromano.com
Wildlife-friendly gardening with Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Find ideas for upcycling and wildlife-friendly gardening at this stand where children can make their own mini-meadow pot.
www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Outdoor fun
There’s a programme of nature-themed Forest School activities on offer provided by the Childrens’ Adventure Farm Trust.
caft.co.uk
Woodland Skills Centre
During these woodland craft workshops for adults and children, visitors can make something to take home from sustainably harvested willow and coppiced hazel.
woodlandskillscentre.uk
Skinny Jean Gardener
Get your hands dirty in these popular sessions with Lee Connelly, the Skinny Jean Gardener, podcaster and former Blue Peter gardening guru.
skinnyjeangardener.co.uk
The Natural History Museum
Meet the scientists to discover what little critters are living in soils and how soil biodiversity helps stuff grow. See the microscopic life below ground, help researchers extract DNA from strawberries and have a go at DNA sequencing with LEGO.
nhm.ac.uk
Wildflower Walk
Learn all about wildflowers and the wildlife that depends upon them with this walk through a wildlife meadow in Green Fields.
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