“Mr Gardener, why do plants and flowers have to die?” asks my four-year-old
son Louis, idly pulling the yellow leaves from a wizened mint bush that
looks as if it has lost the will to live. “Well, often they don’t die,” says
Chris Collins, a gardening expert, standing in a dark and derelict corner of
my London garden, a longneglected stronghold of weeds, nettles and brambles.
“Herbaceous ones can go underground for winter,” he says cheerfully. “It’s
like their little home under the soil, and then they shoot up again in
spring.”
Louis looks relieved but also a little unconvinced. That mint is dead,
definitely. Still, it’s his first introduction to gardening and within
minutes we’ve touched on mortality, regeneration and renewal, possibly more
educational than two hours in front of a Harry Potter DVD. “It’s practical
and hands-on; there’s art and drawing when you design the garden with them.
It’s also about giving them responsibility when they look after plants,
letting them make that connection between the environment and recycling,”
Collins enthuses.
Collins, who is Blue Peter’s resident gardener, has teamed up
with the PlantforLife campaign to encourage children to take more interest
in nature and to get their hands dirty. As part of the initiative, he has
created four garden designs for a new booklet, Nature’s Nurture.
PlantforLife claims that recent research links gardening with increased levels
of physical and psychological health, helping to increase children’s
curiosity, encourage their empathy levels and instil social-consciousness.
In terms of learning, the theory goes like this: children absorb information
in a way completely different from adults.
They thrive on interaction, play and discovery, and hands-on sensory
experience. “Plants, together with soil, sand and water, provide settings
that can be manipulated,” says Vicki Stoecklin, an American expert in child
development who specialises in designing play environments for children.
“Natural elements provide for open-ended play that emphasises unstructured
creative exploration.”
Stoecklin believes that all children have an instinctive desire to interact
with nature but that it is suppressed by lack of opportunity and parents who
spend too much time indoors. “Children have a unique way of knowing
the natural world. You have only to look at the attraction children have for
fairytales set in nature and populated with animal characters. There’s also
convincing evidence that the way children feel in pleasing natural
environments improves creative problem-solving and creativity.”
Until now, my fantasy child-friendly garden would have been a sandpit and a
climbing frame at one end, and a sun lounger near by where I can recline
with a gin and tonic. In reality, whenever nature intervenes unexpectedly, I
have to admit to some anxiety, as in: “Louis, there’s a wasp near your
mouth. Stay still. Don’t panic.”
And when something blooms it’s such a rarity that to pick it is strongly
discouraged, as in: “Don’ t pick another rose; right,
that’s it, inside.” Oh dear. Wrong and wrong again. “I say let them touch
and pick anything they want, as long as it’s not poisonous,” says Collins.
“It’s part of getting in touch with that sensory experience.”
I shall, of course, feel entirely to blame if my offspring develop biophobia,
a condition that starts in early childhood. “It’s a fear or distrust of
nature,” says Dr Sandra Scott, a psychiatrist involved in the PlantforLife
initiative. “Children are increasingly growing up in concrete environments
where they’re learning about nature in school yet lack direct experience and
contact with the real thing.”
Rather than viewing our gardens as extensions of our living rooms, we should
treat them as mini science labs. “It’s where you can learn about nutrition,
health and interaction between the species,” says Dr Scott. “Gardening can
also help to refine children’s fine motor skills through active play,
improving their balance, agility and co-ordination.” There is also some
evidence, she says, that interaction with any outside space can help to
reduce violence, vandalism and bullying.
The best way to encourage your child is to explore the garden together, says
Collins. That means embracing every aspect of livestock out there, from
spiders to garden slugs. He says: “If children are running from something,
it’s not good. They need to be asking ‘Why?’ ” At least Louis scored highly
on that one.
At one point the three of us crouch down, scrutinising the soil. I spot
something small and red with pincers moving through the blades of grass.
“What’s that?” exclaims Louis. “It looks like a small scorpion,” I suppress
a shudder. “Erm, it’s an earwig”, says Collins, and picks it up to show
Louis, something I would never have done but feel duty-bound to do now.
I am extremely encouraged when Collins starts talking about ready-made,
low-maintenance areas for children. “Children are impatient and it’s good to
create something that they can interact with straight away.” In reality this
means going to a garden centre and parting with cash, but there is the
pay-off of instant gratification. Collins takes us to Ginkgo garden centre
in Hammersmith, West London, and guides us to plants that stimulate our
senses: lavender and strawberries for smell and sight; chives for taste; a
shiny green succulent for touch; and a Leucothoe scarletta for sound
— it rattles when you touch it.
When we get back Louis and his sister, two-year-old Evie, become absorbed,
carrying plants to Collins, helping to dig holes and pat the soil down.
There is dirt under their nails, in their hair, and they love it. This is
another aspect to be wholeheartedly encouraged. “A bit of dirt is healthy.
There’s been anti-allergy work that shows children get less coughs and colds
if they’re exposed to dirt,” says Emma Citron, a psychologist specialising
in child development. “I deal with a lot of cases of obsessive-compulsive
disorder and I think that a bit of dirt is certainly healthy; it’s also
about being relaxed and earthy, getting back to basics.”
The results are swift. Within an hour, Collins has created a “sensory” space;
a visual feast of French lavender, wild strawberries and chives for a summer
salad. Both my children head straight for the patch whenever they’re in the
garden, to touch, smell, pat and dig. When Louis picks off all the lavender
heads, I don’t even tell him off; I’m sure he’s just expressing his positive
affinity with nature.
For details of Nature’s Nurture and gardening tips from Chris Collins,
visit www.plantforlife.info
SIX OF THE BEST GARDENING ADVENTURES FOR LITTLE BLOSSOMS
GARDEN ORGANIC, RYTON GARDENS, WARWICKSHIRE These plush
organic gardens, run by Garden Organic, the national charity for organic
growing, are holding a week devoted to getting your sprogs into digging
dirt. The children’s week, from Monday, has different activities every day,
from making insect masks to sowing seeds and making compost. And every
Wednesday throughout the summer Ryton Gardens runs tours for children,
followed by a gardening activity.
Need to know Children’s Week, May 29 to June 2, at Ryton
Organic Gardens. Visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk, 024-7630 3517. The school
holidays scheme, July 26 to August 30;
CHISWICK HOUSE KITCHEN GARDEN, WEST LONDON This garden’s
popular open days can attract more than 1,000 people, with activities that
include picking herbs for bread dough, which kids can take home and bake,
and looking at a bee-hive in action. The garden is always looking for volunteers
and holds relaxed drop-in work sessions when families can do the gardening.
Need to know The next open day is June 18, 1pm-5pm. Visit
www.kitchengarden.org.uk for more information, or e-mail
info@kitchengarden.org.uk.
BROOKHOUSE URBAN GARDENING SCHEME, CREWE This project started
with a few bored kids asking Eugene and Susie Mitchell, a local Crewe
couple, if they could help with the gardening. That was three years ago and
it has now transformed into a children’s gardening session every Saturday
and Sunday morning, with 13 allotments and more than 40 kids.
Need to know Visit www.bugs.org.uk or call 01270 652721
NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN OF WALES, CARMARTHENSHIRE Schools
across Wales can help to design and plant these botanical gardens through an
education scheme. The botanic garden also runs a photographic scheme for
children, awarding a special certificate to anyone who can snap an insect
sucking nectar from a flower that they have planted and nurtured.
Need to know www.gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 668768 to
get involved.
E-mail your photographs to education@gardenofwales.org.uk
NATIONAL TRUST, NATIONWIDE Days aimed at getting families
into gardening are regularly run by the National Trust at their homes and
gardens. Melford Hall, in Suffolk, for instance, throws a family garden fun
day; while Yorkshire kids can take part in a garden trail at Beningbrough
Hall.
Need to know For information about events in your area, visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk or call 0870 4584000.
DUCHY ORIGINALS GARDEN ORGANIC FOR SCHOOLS PROJECT, NATIONWIDE
This campaign sets up gardens near or in schools around the country. Kids
can get hands-on experience on how to grow veg and learn more about where
food comes from.
Need to know Visit www.schoolsorganic.net or call 0247630
8238 for projects in your area.
