You may not think it, but your garden is a pretty inspiring place for kids. Yes, it may be tricky to get them away from their devices or motivate them to go outside, but once they’re out there, they will soon reap the rewards. Gardening boasts a whole range of benefits and can teach your child a lot of important life lessons at an early age.

Research shows that gardening can help children of all ages lead more fulfilled, happier, and healthier lives. It's an inexpensive way to gain valuable skills and a better understanding of how nature and the world around us work. So let’s get into it, shall we? Here are Fothergill’s top five benefits of gardening for children:

Gardening With Children Teaches Them Patience

While actively gardening is fun, you don’t necessarily get to enjoy the results immediately. Just think about growing from flower seeds – it can take weeks for the seeds to germinate and grow before their beautiful blossoms appear.

But gardening isn’t about instant gratification; it’s more about the long-term enjoyment of creating the conditions for plants to grow and then flower or produce a tasty harvest. It’s good to teach kids that famous phrase: “Good things come to those who wait”.

Gardening Encourages Kids to Learn About Nature

It’s good to teach young children about the importance of nature, life cycles, and ecosystems. We can also take the opportunity to explain how everything is linked and how we can all take steps to help nurture and care for the natural environment around us. Once out in the garden, they’ll get a chance to understand the value of the outside world.

They can learn about pollinator-friendly plants and seeds and how important insects can be, not only for flower plants but for the natural world in general. If they start to understand and appreciate their surroundings from a young age, they will be more likely to care for them as they grow.

Gardening Gets Them Active

Kids love dirt and the space in which to be free and express themselves! So, it shouldn’t be too hard to get them in the soil, away from the distractions of the indoors. Gardening is also a great way for families to spend time together, participate in hobbies, and exercise together. It can be a great way to burn off some energy, especially when lots of bending, raking, digging, and planting are involved.

Gardening is Good For Their Health

Exercise isn’t the only way in which gardening is great for kids’ health. Picking their fruit and vegetables is the best encouragement for kids to explore and enjoy a whole world of new flavours packed with valuable vitamins and nutrients.

Getting some regular sunshine (with sun protection, of course) will do wonders for their Vitamin D levels! Studies have shown it will also help with their mental health, particularly having a positive effect on ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

Gardening Gives Them Some Responsibility

Gardening doesn’t stop once the seeds have been sown. A garden, its ecosystems, and its plants need to be nurtured to ensure they’ve got the best chance possible of growing. It’s important for the little ones to complete general maintenance tasks, like regular watering and weeding. This ongoing attention will help give your kids a real sense of purpose and achievement when plants flourish, flowers bloom, and crops ripen.

Shop Gardening Essentials At Fothergill’s

Now that you’ve got a better idea of why we’re so insistent that you try gardening with children, it’s time to start your growing journey together!

Here at Fothergill’s, we encourage families to get in the garden and make lasting memories. Enjoy having that specific flower that will always remind you of your youngest or that distinct tomato flavour that takes you right back to the family dinner table for the rest of your life!

We’re a trusted supplier of all things gardening, so make the most of our 100% satisfaction guarantee and choose from our range of flower bulbs, vegetable seeds, and more at Fothergill’s.

From butterflies and beetles to spiders and earthworms, minibeasts play a vital role in keeping our garden ecosystems healthy. Moreover, they’re a delight to watch and study, especially for young nature enthusiasts. A minibeast hunt is a great way to encourage the whole family to get outdoors, connect with nature and experience the UK’s tiniest creatures up close.

In this guide from Fothergill’s, we’ll explore how to do a minibeast hunt at home. We’ll also share the best plants and garden accessories for creating a bug-friendly outdoor space!

What Are Minibeasts?

Minibeasts are the small invertebrates that live all around us, including in our gardens. Though they’re often called ‘bugs’ or ‘insects’, minibeasts are a very diverse group. They comprise not just six-legged insects but also spiders, snails, woodlice, earthworms, and other tiny creatures. 

In the UK, minibeasts are essential for healthy garden ecosystems and overall biodiversity. They pollinate plants, break down organic matter in the soil, act as natural pest control and provide vital food sources for birds and wildlife. 

How to Find Minibeasts

While you can find minibeasts all year round, spring and summer are the best times to go on a minibeast hunt – this is when most species are active. 

What You’ll Need

You don’t need any special equipment to do a minibeast hunt: just a keen-eyed group of young explorers! However, the following tools can come in useful:

• A small spoon, paint brush or stick (like a wooden plant label) for moving delicate creatures without hurting them
• A magnifying glass – perfect for examining small creatures up close
• A clear lidded box or food storage container for temporarily housing your minibeasts
• A notebook and pen to help you keep track of the species you find 

Wear comfortable outdoor clothes that you don’t mind getting damp or dirty. Remember to bring a camera if you want to take pictures of your bug-hunting adventure!

Where to Look

Start your hunt in the most promising minibeast habitats around your garden. Many minibeasts prefer hidden, sheltered spots during the day, so you must look closely to spot them. 

Lift stones, logs, plant pots and loose paving slabs carefully to look for creatures like woodlice, worms and centipedes. Check flowering plants and leaves for feeding insects, and examine crevices in trees, fence posts and garden walls. Other great places to check include compost, soil and leaf piles that make goldmines for minibeasts.

Keep a close eye on water features and ponds, as many species (such as damselflies) can be found hovering near water. You might even spot aquatic insects such as pond skaters!

Things to Consider

Always supervise young children during minibeast hunts. Where possible, teach little explorers to look rather than touch, especially when it comes to delicate creatures such as butterflies. If you plan to gently move minibeasts to observe them better, always handle them carefully. Be aware that some minibeasts may bite or sting, such as certain species of spiders and caterpillars. 

When you’ve finished observing minibeasts, always return them – and anything you moved, such as stones and logs – to exactly where you found them. 

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Minibeast Hunt Checklist

Use this handy minibeast hunt checklist as a guide to some of the common garden minibeasts you’re likely to find on your summer hunts.

• Ladybirds—these small spotted beetles are great pest controllers. They’ll be found on plants, hunting for aphids.
• Spiders — these eight-legged arachnids are found in webs and dark corners. Garden spiders are excellent for controlling flying insects. 
• Woodlice — these tiny land-dwelling crustaceans hide in damp places, such as underneath plant pots and logs. They help break down dead plant matter, which enriches the soil naturally.
• Centipedes and millipedes — these many-legged arthropods are found in leaf litter, loose bark and underneath rocks. Centipedes hunt other invertebrates, whilst millipedes eat decaying plant matter.

• Earthworms – long and pink, earthworms are fantastic at aerating and enriching the soil. They’re usually underground, though they often surface when it rains. 

• Bees and wasps — these vital winged pollinators support fruit and vegetable production. You’ll find them around flowers during warm weather. 
• Butterflies — also essential pollinators, adult butterflies feed on flower nectar whilst their caterpillars provide food for garden birds. 
• Slugs and snails — these molluscs are most active in damp conditions. Though sometimes considered garden pests, slugs and snails are essential decomposers and food sources for wildlife.

Create a Minibeast-Friendly Garden

Want to improve your chances of finding minibeasts on your next hunt? Start by planting pollinator-friendly plants and seeds, like lavender plants and native wildflowers. These provide essential nectar for bees and butterflies.

In addition, leave a few wild corners with log piles and stone heaps where creatures can hide. You can also add bug hotels and bee boxes, which serve as excellent pre-made shelters! These simple changes will help your garden support local biodiversity, ensuring plenty of fascinating minibeast discoveries. 

Head to Fothergill’s today for everything you need to create a bug-friendly garden, from wildflower seeds to bee accessories. For more helpful tips and how-tos, visit our gardening blog.

Introducing children to gardening and cooking from an early age is a fantastic way to get them excited about food, encourage healthy eating habits, and spend quality time together as a family. By growing their own fruit seeds and vegetable plants, kids learn responsibility, patience, and the joy of eating something they’ve nurtured from seed to plate.

If you’re looking for easy cooking activities for kids, we’ve got plenty of fun ideas that will bring gardening and cooking together in a way that’s both educational and delicious!

Benefits of gardening for children

Gardening isn’t just about growing food; it’s a fantastic way to teach children valuable life skills while providing an opportunity for outdoor fun. It encourages self-sufficiency, giving children a sense of independence and achievement when growing their own food. It can also teach patience and responsibility, as watching plants grow takes time and care, helping them understand patience and the importance of nurturing.

If you’ve been looking for ways to spend time with your children, gardening is a wonderful activity for family bonding away from screens. 

Many fruits and vegetables are simple to grow and maintain, making gardening a stress-free activity for little ones. In the long run, it can promote healthy eating, as children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables they’ve grown themselves.

Let’s explore some of the easiest fruits and vegetables for kids to grow, followed by some fun ways to use them in simple, delicious recipes.

Easy gardening activities for kids

Growing fruit and veg can be exciting for children, especially when they get to pick their own fresh, sweet treats from the garden or see their vegetables be put into their dinner. Here are some easy fruits to grow with kids:

Fruits

Strawberries are a firm favourite among children; they’re juicy and sweet - what’s not to love? Our range of strawberry seeds grows well in pots, hanging baskets, or garden beds, and requires very little maintenance. Choose everbearing strawberry varieties, like Toscana Strawberries, for a longer harvest period.

Enjoy delicious raspberries grown from easy-to-maintain raspberry plants. Go for autumn-fruiting varieties, like the Autumn Treasure raspberries, which are lower maintenance and fruit in the first year.

Blueberries are a yummy and easy snack for little ones to have on the go. Our blueberry plants thrive in pots and can provide an abundance of berries year after year. For an exciting twist, plant some Pink Lemonade Blueberries - yes, pink blueberries exist! – they’re deliciously sweet. Use ericaceous compost for best results, as blueberries prefer acidic soil.

While many consider tomatoes vegetables, they are technically fruits. Sweet cherry tomatoes are a fantastic crop for kids to grow, as they ripen quickly and can be eaten straight from the plant. Grow them in pots or hanging baskets for easy access to ripe tomatoes.

Vegetables

Vegetables are some of the easiest plants for children to grow, and they add variety to their diet. Here are some simple options:

Not only are carrot seeds fun to grow and pull from the ground, but they are also an excellent choice for kids. For quicker harvesting, produce small, round carrot varieties like Paris Market.

Lettuce is fast-growing and provides a steady supply of fresh salad leaves. They’re a healthy and staple addition to any salad or sandwich. Opt for cut-and-come-again lettuce seed varieties like Little Gem lettuce to keep harvesting over time.

One of the quickest-growing vegetable seeds is radish seeds, which are perfect for impatient little gardeners. Sow seeds every few weeks for a continuous harvest. Add a pop of colour to any dish with Radish Bright Lights Seeds, which vary from red and white to purple and yellow.

Sweet and crunchy, peas are easy to grow and fun to pick straight from the pods. Provide support for climbing varieties, like Kelvedon Wonder or Climbing (French) Beans Sunshine with its lovely yellow colour, and encourage kids to snack on freshly picked peas.

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Children’s meal ideas

Once you've harvested your homegrown fruits and vegetables, it’s time to put them to good use! There are countless recipes and easy cooking activities for kids that you can do to get them involved in the kitchen as well as the garden. Cooking together is not only fun but also a great way to encourage kids to try new foods. Here are some children’s meal ideas that use freshly picked produce:

Mini Pizzas

Let kids create their own mini pizzas using fresh tomatoes, basil, and any other homegrown toppings. Use whole wheat pita, flatbreads or tortillas as a base, spread tomato sauce, sprinkle cheese, and top with fresh veggies before baking.

Rainbow salad wraps

Make a fun, colourful wrap using lettuce, carrots, radishes, and pea shoots. Lay out a tortilla, spread it with hummus or cream cheese, and let the children layer on their favourite homegrown veggies before rolling up.

Fruit yogurt parfaits

Yoghurt parfaits are simple and delicious. Layer Greek yoghurt, fresh berries, and granola in a cup for a healthy, kid-friendly snack. Make sure to use a transparent glass or bowl to see the pretty layers.

Veggie fritters

Grated courgettes and carrots make crispy veggie fritters. These are a lovely, healthy snack or can be added as a side to any meal. Mix grated vegetables with an egg, a little flour, and seasoning, then pan-fry until golden brown.

<h3>Fresh garden pea pasta</h3>

Sweet garden peas are a great addition to pasta dishes. Cook pasta and toss with olive oil, garlic, peas, and a sprinkle of cheese for a simple yet delicious meal.

<h2>Shop fruit and veg seeds at Fothergill’s/</h2>

Gardening and cooking with children is an excellent way to teach them about where food comes from, encourage healthy eating, and create lifelong memories. Take a look at our vegetable seeds and fruit plants and get started on growing your yummy garden.

Whether you’re growing strawberries for a summer dessert or harvesting carrots for a homemade snack, kids will love the journey from seed to plate.