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This year we celebrate Earth Day on Monday 22nd April. This hugely important day is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness to the younger generation, and the great thing is it doesn't have to be hard or complicated. A simple walk out in nature, taking time to listen and look will give children the opportunity to engage and become curious. The more children immerse themselves in nature, the more they will want to help and protect it. BE CURIOUS & FALL IN LOVE One thing we like to do is lie face down in a field, eyes as close to the grass as possible. It's amazing how many creatures you'll discover if you're just a little patient. Children will glimpse a whole other world right under their feet! This is a great way of introducing them to the smaller creatures in life. Young children can sometimes be scared or nervous of bugs, bees and creepy crawlies; having the opportunity to watch them up close in their natural habitat can convert fear into curiosity, fascination and even love! Extend your observation to the sky by simply rolling over! How many different types of bird you can spot? When you close your eyes how many can you hear? EAT WITH GRATITUDE Another way to demonstrate and appreciate what Mother Earth does for us is to cook using foraged plants like wild garlic (great in homemade scones!), stinging nettles (our favourite is stinging nettle pesto!) and of course blackberries (always remember to freeze surplus so you can enjoy throughout the year). Check out The Grizzly Forager and their amazing array of inspiring foraged recipes for children. MEND & DEVELOP SKILLS It is so easy nowadays to replace what is broken, but is it really broken? Can it be fixed? Demonstrating to children that things can be repaired not only extends the longevity of your belongings, but also empowers them to do things for themselves, building skills, knowledge and confidence. And if you are unsure yourself on how something can be fixed, find a local repair cafe where you'll find experts and specialist who can assist you. Whatever you decide to do for Earth Day this year, we would love to hear all about it! Send us your photo of helping the Earth and we will feature it on our NNKids in Action Wall of Awesomeness. Email any pictures to hello@naturenurturekids.co.uk. For more information on Earth Day or to find out what events are happening near you, head to the official Earth Day website here.

We recently volunteered with Avon Needs Trees; a registered charity that create new, permanent woodland throughout the Bristol - Avon area. By fundraising to buy land, they aim to create woodlands that stand for generations, locking up carbon, boosting local biodiversity, and providing natural flood management. We joined their family event where kids can get hands on and independently plant trees; knowing they were contributing to building a new woodland gave them a real sense of purpose and enjoyment. When NNK Started a woodland.... First we found a spot to plant our sapling. Then got stuck in digging a hole, opening up the Earth with the spade. Once dug, we choose a sapling and placed it in the hole, stamping down the soil around the tree, to compress the roots. We lay a mulch bag around the sapling to stop grass growing too close, using bamboo pegs and a mallet to pin it down. Finally we pushed in a supporting bamboo stick next to the sapling and wrapped a protective sleeve around them both And so the woodland begins...

Earth Day Saturday 22nd April 2023 Earth Day is an annual celebration of our planet and an opportunity to raise awareness of the need to protect the Earth for future generations. A global host of organisations, businesses and individuals will be getting involved including Nature Nurture Kids. How can children get involved on Earth Day? Earth Day is a great opportunity to teach and empower kids to actively help nature and the planet, if you are unsure where to start we've popped together a list of ideas to help inspire young children to take part: Planet helping ideas: Nature helping ideas: 1. Create a bee drinking station! Include rocks and moss for bees to land on and to prevent them from drowning. Bees are attracted to water by smell; the strong smell of moss can help bees locate the water whilst also keeping the feeder moist. 2. Keep birds topped up with nutritious nuts and seeds. During winter, food and water sources are often more scarce, so keeping bird feeders topped up can really make a difference, especially to nesting birds. Make sure to include a large bowl of fresh water (make it large enough so they can have a splash about and cool down too!). 3. Help passing and resident hedgehogs by leaving a shallow dish of fresh water out each night. Make sure you also pop out some hedgehog food, ideally just after dusk when they first start to search for food. The Autumn and Winter months are particularly important months for additional food, as this is when most hedgehogs will be trying to fatten up before they go into hibernation. 4. Provide an area for hedgehogs to nest using log piles and leaves, or even better build a hedgehog house with a ramp for easy access! 5. Offer a tired bee some sugar water, the sugar gives bees a boost of energy and the water will keep them hydrated when struggling to find a water source. Make sure you use the correct type of sugar – some sugars can cause diseases in bees. 6. Organise a local litter pick. Invite friends and family to head out to your local park, woodland, beach or around your local town or city. Clearing litter off roads and pavements will prevent it ending up in nature and the sea. 7. Plant wildflower seeds and create a haven for bees, butterfly’s, beetles and other insects. Ideally chose organic seeds and compost, avoiding unnecessary chemicals and pesticides which can be harmful to bees and other pollinators. 8. If you see a worm on concrete – move it! Find a moist sheltered area where it can easily go back into the Earth; decaying leaf piles and muddy verges are perfect! We would love to hear how you are helping the planet and nature! Check out our NNKids in Action on our Wall of Awesomeness - if you would like to be featured you can tag us on Facebook or Instagram or email any pictures to hello@naturenurturekids.co.uk. For more information on Earth Day or to find out what events are happening near you, head to the official Earth Day website here.

If you are like us and have a continuous stash of pine cones that keep appearing in the house, then this is a great way to put them to good use! What you will need: Nature Nurture Kids Bird Food Pine cones Peanut Butter (no added sugar or salt) Old paint brush Natural string Step 1 Cut a length of string and tie it around the top of a pine cone to create a loop for hanging your feeder. Step 2 Holding the string, use an old paintbrush to paint the peanut butter all over the pine cone, making sure to get into the gaps where you can. Step 3 Once covered, push the pine cone into a bowl/plate of bird seed, rolling it around until it is completely covered in seeds. You can also use your fingers to push the bird food into the peanut butter making sure it sticks. Step 4 Once covered, head outside and find a shaded spot in the trees and hang your feeder on a branch. Our pine cone feeders are always very popular with our garden birds - they are always empty by end of the day! TIP: Once the birds have eaten all the seeds, you can reuse the pine cone by adding peanut butter and seeds again!

Get stuck in and create a simple hanging bird feeder packed full of nutrients and high fat for gorgeous garden birds. What you will need: 8 tbsp Nature Nurture Kids Bird Food 6 tbsp coconut oil 2 tbsp peanut butter (no added sugar or salt) Small cookie cutters Natural string Pencil Step 1 With the help of a grown up, carefully melt the coconut oil in a saucepan on a medium to low heat. Step 2 Once the coconut oil has melted, add the peanut butter and stir to combine. Step 3 Pour the coconut and peanut mixture into a large bowl over the bird seed mix. Stir thoroughly. Step 4 Make sure the mixture has cooled a little. Using your hands or a spoon, load your cookie cutter with the seed mix. Make sure to push firmly onto the mixture, compacting it tight. Step 5 Once full, use a pencil to push a hole through the top centre, wriggle it around a little to make sure the hole is big enough for the string to be attached. Step 6 Allow the mixture to completely cool and solidify in the cookie cutters, the best place is in a fridge. Step 7 Once solid, gently ease the seed mix from the cookie cutter. Cut a length of string and thread it through the hole, tying the ends together. Step 8 Find a shaded spot outside and hang onto a branch of a tree or anywhere safe and easily accessible by birds. TIP: Always make sure there is a source of fresh water available near your feeders, so the birds can quench their thirst whilst they feed!

A simple hands-on activity for kids to make in preparation for a frosty morning. This is a fun, temporary feeder offering a place for birds to balance, hydrate and feed. What you will need: Nature Nurture Kids Bird Food Ice cube tray Spoon Water Natural string Step 1 Using the spoon carefully fill each ice cube with some bird seed mix. Step 2 Slowly pour over the water to completely cover the seeds. Step 3 Take a long length of string and push it into each seed section, making sure the string is covered with water and seeds to hold it in place. TIP: You can add an extra small sprinkle of seeds on top to help hold the string in place. Step 4 Freeze the seeds and water overnight either in a freezer or outside, providing it is cold enough. Step 5 Once fully frozen, carefully pop out each cube. You should have a flexible string of iced seeds! Step 6 Head outside and find a shaded spot in the trees. Tie one end of the string to a branch and the other end to a branch opposite, to create a tightrope. We were super excited to see that no sooner had we popped back inside after hanging ours up, there was a blue tit already sat balanced nibbling away! TIPS: Ideally hang out the feeder first thing when it is still cold. Depending on the temperature these feeders will start to melt over the course of the day. If the birds haven't eaten them already, once melted, the seeds will drop and can be eaten directly from the floor. Birds you may spot enjoying the Nature Nurture Kids Bird Feeder...

A simple natural craft for children (young ones may need a grown ups help). The creators at Nature Nurture Kids first designed this bee planter stick with the idea they would be placed next to our wildflower Seed Bombs, helping little ones remember where to watch their flowers grow! However since making them, we have found our little ones have been finding other fun uses like puppet shows and role play... so if your little ones can come up with some other fun ways to enjoy their bee sticks, please do share with us! What you will need: A pine cone Some yellow and black wool yarn (a few different shades of yellow works well too) 2 small pebbles 2 dried leaves 1 lolly stick White and black pens or paint Strong glue Step 1 Wrap the yellow wool around the pine cone, weaving it through the gaps. When you have used up all the wool, push the end into the closest gap (you may want to pop a dot a glue to keep it in place). Step 2 Wrap the black wool around the pine cone a couple of times ending up at the back of the bee. Push the end into the closest gap at the back (you may want to pop a dot a glue to keep it in place). Step 3 Paint or draw onto the small stones to make the eyes (we painted a white background, then drew the black centre with pen). Step 4 Add 2 blobs of glue to the face of the pine cone, placing down the stone eyes, sticking them in place. Step 5 Trim down the leaves for wings if they are too big. Step 6 Add a blob of glue to the sides of the pine cone and push the leaves in gently, sticking them in place. Step 7 Add a blob of glue to the underneath of the bee and gently push in the lolly stick, sticking it in place. Step 6 Once dry, push the bee planter stick directly into the ground or plant pot, next to your wildflower Seed Bomb. Step 7 Enjoy watching the flowers grow alongside your new bee friend!

We are at a time now where we have come to the understanding that if we do not take care of our planet, we are not taking care of our children’s future. We are each responsible for setting a positive example to our children; to empower them and give them the tools, knowledge and confidence to work in and with nature. Demonstrating how our actions, however small, can have a positive impact on the planet and their future. If we can teach our children to love nature, they are far more likely to take care and nurture their environment when they are older. "Unless we are willing to encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate the natural world, we cannot expect them to help protect and care for it" David Suzuki. Why are bees so important? Bees are imperative to the natural circle of life on our planet. They are one of the world’s most important pollinators as they are able to pollinate on a huge scale, unlike other pollinators like wind, birds, bats and other insects. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, approximately 80% of all flowering plants are specialised for pollination by animals, mostly insects (which includes bees). Pollination is crucial because many of our vegetables, fruits and the crops that feed our livestock rely on it to be fertilised. It has been estimated that it would cost farmers in the UK an incredible £1.8 billion per year to manually pollinate their crops, which just further emphasises the importance of bees who provide us with every third mouthful of food we eat! Why do bees need help? Since the 1900’s, the UK has lost 20 species of bee, and a further 35 are considered under threat of extinction. This is partly due to a rise in the use of pesticides across the world, and partly to the fact we have fewer habitats with the wildflowers bees need. Teaching our kids By teaching our children about bees, it is more likely they will want to help them. There are so many fun ways to learn about bees and an abundance of learning resources available. Some children are nervous of bees due to their potential sting. The best tool against fear is education and by learning about bees, children can begin to understand that these tiny creatures are much more than buzzing, stinging insects. How to inspire kids to learn about bees Set up a bee play and craft table; include bee books from your local library, printed worksheets and craft materials. Have your Nature Nurture Kids Bee Rescue Kit on hand to help out a tired bee – there is so much to see and learn by watching a close up encounter of a feeding bee. Go on a bug hunt in your garden. Book a local guided Bee Walk. Record and identify bees you see in your garden. Keep a nature diary. Book a local bee keeping talk/demonstration. Do bee crafts – see our latest blog on how to make a simple bee for your wildflower seed bomb garden. How kids can help bees Create a wildflower patch in your garden. Build a bee house. Use their Nature Nurture Kids Bee Rescue Kit to help out tired bees. Create a bee watering station in your garden. Plant a herb garden. 10 Fun facts to keep kids interested There are more than 20,000 species of bees. Bees have five eyes and six legs. Bees can see all colours except red. Each bee has 170 odorant receptors, giving them an incredible sense of smell to sniff out flowers! Honey bees live in hives (or colonies). The members of the hive are divided into three types: Queen, Workers, and Drones. The average beehive can house around 50,000 bees. Worker bees can visit 50 – 100 flowers in one single trip to collect nectar. The queen bee can lay over 2,500 eggs per day. It takes 21 days for an egg to develop into an adult bee. Honey bees can fly at a speed of around 25km per hour and beat their wings 200 times per second. For more information and resources for your kids, head to https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/bees-fun-facts-and-activities-children

Our Veggie Bombs have been tried and tested throughout the year. The great thing about seed bombs is that the clay will generally protect the seeds until they are ready to germinate. This means you can plant them at any point of the year and they will lay dormant until they are ready. We have left our Veggie Bombs out all through winter and most have survived into spring. However if the environment or elements are too harsh, the seeds may not all make it. Our guide below illustrates how to get optimum results from your Veggie Bombs. Your Rudi Radish Veggie Bombs When to plant The great thing about radishes is that they can be planted throughout the growing season from February through to September. Germination only takes a few days and they grow fast so your little ones won’t have to wait long to see the results. Sow & Grow Your radish bombs can be placed in containers or directly into the ground. Choose a sheltered spot in full sunshine with free draining soil. Place on top of some soil, gently pushing the seed bomb so that the bottom half is in the soil and the top half is above the surface. When the seedlings start to appear and have a pair of small leaves, gently pull some of the seedlings out to allow the other seedlings space to grow. The pulled out seedlings can be re-planted 2.5cm apart, making sure their roots and stem are re-planted deep enough for the soil to support them. TIP: By watering the radish bombs beforehand, it will make it easier to pull the seedlings out intact, avoiding damage to their roots. Care Water if dry, making sure the soil is kept moist. Harvesting your Radishes Your radishes can be harvested between 4 – 6 weeks (between April – October). Pull out the largest as they reach the size of a marble, when they are at their tenderest. Take care not to disturb the roots of the other radishes still growing. Radishes can be eaten raw, simply cut off the roots and leaves then wash! TIP: Save a few radish bombs, leaving them to dry naturally in a cool dark space. Then plant them a month or so after your first batch so that you have a continuous crop. Your Boltardy Beetroot Veggie Bombs When to plant The best time to plant your beetroot bombs is between April – July. Sow & Grow Your beetroot bombs can be planted in containers (1 beetroot bomb per 45cm pot) or directly into the ground. They will need full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil. Place on top of some soil, gently pushing the seed bomb so that the bottom half is in the soil and the top half is above the surface. Beetroot seeds produce multiple seedlings so it is best to thin them out. This allows plenty of room to grow so that they are not competing with the other seedlings for water, nutrients and light. It also helps improve the air circulation around them. When your seedlings reach around 2.5cm high, gently pull the smaller seedlings out (these can be replanted in rows 10cm apart, providing you are careful not to damage the roots). It is best to leave one plant to mature at each spot with a distance of 7-10cm between others. TIP: By watering the beetroot bombs beforehand, it will make it easier to pull the seedlings out intact, avoiding damage to their roots. Care Keep weed free. Water in dry spells every 10-14 days. Harvesting your Beetroots Your beetroots can be harvested between July – November. Harvest your beets when they are no larger than a cricket ball. You can harvest them by hand by firmly grasping the area where the leaves meet the beetroot and give a firm and steady pull until it comes out of the ground. TIP: You can also harvest your beetroots to keep in storage. To do this, harvest in autumn before the frost starts. Twist off the leaves and store in a frost free place covered in sand until ready to eat. Your Dwarf French Bean Veggie Bombs Dwarf French Beans are great for kids to grow themselves as they are easy to pick, early maturing, and have a high yield. They do not require much room except upwards, so they are perfect to grow in smaller spaces. When to plant The best time to plant your bean bombs outside is at the beginning of May/June into warm soil. Sow & Grow Your bean bombs can be placed in containers (1 bomb per 30-45cm wide container) or directly into the ground. Choose a sheltered spot in full sunshine with free draining soil. Place on top of some soil, gently pushing the seed bomb so that the bottom half is in the soil and the top half is above the surface. When sowing outdoors, make sure it is after a frost (around late May/June) into a warm sunny spot. Water the bombs when first planted. Care Water regularly, especially when the flowers and pods start to form. Keep pods off the soil by inserting short twiggy sticks. Keep weed free. Harvesting your Beans You can harvest your beans in July, August and September. Start to pick your beans when the pods are around 10cm long, before the beans can be seen through the pods. They should snap off easily. Pick regularly so that the plants crop for several weeks. TIP: Green beans are also suitable for indoor cultivation, as long as they are in a warm sunny place they can be grown throughout the year.

1. In a bowl, mix together the clay and compost until thoroughly combined. Children may prefer to use their hands to mix! 2. Slowly add drops of water, just enough to change the clay and compost mix into a modelling clay consistency, enabling you to manipulate it. 3. Divide the mixture into 3 equal parts. 4. Take one part and gently press the Rudi Radish seeds inside, rolling in your hands to make sure they are evenly spread. Separate and roll the Radish mixture into small tight balls, roughly the size of a 10 pence piece. Do the same with the Boltardy Beetroot seeds and the Dwarf French Beans with the other two parts of compost and clay mix. The Bean balls should have 1 – 2 Beans inside each ball. Tip: Make sure you keep the different seed bomb mixes apart from each other so you know which is which. Next steps: The balls can be thrown/planted straight away whilst still moist. Using the seed bombs straight after making them will encourage the seeds to germinate quicker. Or, you can allow the balls to dry in a cool dark place for 24-48 hours. By drying the balls you can then save them until you are ready to plant them or wrap in paper to present as gifts to friends and family. For information on where and when to plant your Veggie Bombs, head to our Blog “How to get the most out of your Veggie Seed Bombs”.

Our organic wildflower Seed Bombs are hardy and adaptable and can be grown indoors and outside. They can be placed in containers, on stone walls, flower beds, around trees, along river banks, gravel areas and woodlands. Although if the Seed Bombs do not have the right weather conditions, they may struggle in these environments. To make sure your Seed Bombs get the best results, follow our guide below: Best time to plant Your Seed Bombs can be scattered throughout the year, as the clay protects them until they are ready to germinate. The optimum time to plant for faster results is spring and autumn, after the danger of frost. Avoid spreading your Seed Bombs during the heat of the afternoon. Try sowing in the evening and just before rain is forecast. Where to plant POTS & PLANTERS: Seed Bombs can flourish even in planters. Load pots or planters with peat-free compost and soil, then place one or two bombs on the surface pressing them in gently, then water. INDOORS: Placing a single Seed Bomb in a plant pot on a sunny windowsill, for children to tend and care for, is a great way to show them the growing process from seed to flower. This can be done anytime of the year, providing the plants are warm, watered and in sunny spot. OUTDOORS: Ideally a weeded, sunny location, pushed in slightly, directly on top of soil (avoiding grass). A site that is warmed by sun rays for at least six hours in the day is an ideal location. How to get the most out of your Seed Bombs Your Seed Bombs will grow in most places providing there is ample sun, water and time. For the wildflowers to have optimum growth, clear away all unwanted plants, grass, and weeds before placing down your Seed Bombs. With less roots to battle with, germination will be faster and the wildflower plants will grow healthier. Do not sow the Seed Bombs too densely. Allow 1 Seed Bomb per square foot of soil. Make sure the seedbed is kept moist and doesn’t dry out, but do not over water or allow it to become waterlogged, this can be just as bad as drying out. If your Seed Bombs are inside or under cover then you will need to water them every 1-2 days. Avoid planting your Seed Bombs in windy weather as this can damage and disperse the clay and compost that protect the seeds. Scattered Seed Bombs should not be broken, picked up or moved once it has rained, as this could damage any growing roots. Germination occurs after the clay is permeated with water. Points to remember If you don’t want to use the Seed Bombs straight away, they can be stored in a cool, dry place until ready to use. There is no need to dig! As the wildflower seeds are encased in clay and peat-free compost, they are essentially already “planted”. Your Seed Bombs need a lot of water, sun and time. Wildflowers are hardy and adaptable but slow growers. Each wildflower species has a different flowering time and length of time taken to come into flower – some will flower in the first year and others will flower in the following year. The Seed Bombs will begin to grow as a cluster of plants, but will later disperse as the clay itself disintegrates and disperses.

In a bowl, mix together the clay and compost until thoroughly combined. Children may prefer to use their hands to mix! Add the wildflower seeds into the clay/compost mix making sure they are mixed in evenly. Slowly add drops of water, just enough to change your mixture into a modelling clay consistency enabling you to manipulate it. Form the mixture into large marble sized balls (roughly the size of a 50p coin), rolling it in your hands. Our DIY Seed Bomb Kit will make approximately 20 balls. Next steps: The balls can be thrown/planted straight away whilst still moist. Using the seed bombs straight after making them will encourage the seeds to germinate quicker. Or, you can allow the balls to dry in a cool dark place for 24-48 hours. By drying the balls you can then save them until you are ready to plant them or wrap in paper to present as gifts to friends and family. IDEA: The Seed Bombs do not have to be rolled into balls and can be formed into other shapes. Children can use fun shaped cookie cutters or model into animal shapes like small snails or even worms! Just be sure to make the Seed Bombs roughly the size of a large marble, not too thin and not too large. Too big and there will be too many seeds competing with each other. Too small/flat/thin and the seeds won’t be protected enough by the clay. Mixture of certified organic flower seeds you’ll find in our Seed Bomb Kits: Sunflower, Borage, Lupin, Buckwheat, Phacelia, Egyptian Clover, Persian Clover, Summer Vetch, Serradella, Motherwort, Dill, Mauritanian Mallow, Calendula, Cornflower and Corn Marigold. This special blend has been chosen to support pollinating insects like bees and butterfly’s. For tips on where and when to plant your Seed Bombs, head to our Blog “How to get the most out of your Seed Bombs”.