Encourage children into the great outdoors by growing their very own wildflowers

The summer holidays are here and with it comes the inevitable – parents desperately trying to think of ways to amuse their little ones without having to resort to the digital nanny!

Wildflower expert Seedball is encouraging youngsters to spend time in the garden by growing their own wildflowers, which will enable them to reap all the benefits that come with outdoor play, and so much more.

Gardening can richly improve children’s lives, with reports saying that it helps to improve their mood and stress levels, keeps them active, allows them to develop a love of nature, encourages healthy eating and sensory development, and allows families to spend more quality time together – all while having fun!

Not only that, but planting wildflowers will also attract much-needed pollinators like honeybees, meaning children can play a part in making a positive difference to our planet. While their plants are growing, children will feel ownership of their very own patch of garden, and all the bugs, beetles and bees that are attracted to it. Growing wildflowers couldn’t be easier with Seedball, as children simply need to scatter them on a patch of ground, water them and watch them grow.

With the company’s ‘Make your own Seedball kit’, the activity extends beyond growing flowers to a rainy-day activity, as children can make their very own seed balls in a fun and messy way.

This kit consists of three compostable paper pouches containing bee and butterfly wildflower seeds, clay powder and peat-free compost. By mixing all three ingredients together in a bowl with water, children can create up to 60 seed balls in less than an hour. Once the seed balls are dry, kids and adults alike can enjoy the experience of scattering them in the garden or in pots, and watching them grow.

It could also offer an opportune moment to talk to children about why it's so important to grow and nurture wildflowers, and how they can continue to play their part to make sure this vital work continues. With pollinators on the decline, this product is a fantastic way to teach children about the importance of flowers for wildlife, while providing them with an exciting, hands-on task to take part in. The kit allows them to be involved in every step of the seed’s journey from product to flower, that results in a beautiful garden for the whole family to enjoy, while providing a source of food for bees and butterflies and helping to pollinate other plants along the way.

Find out more about how Seedballs are made and how to use them at https://seedball.co.uk/

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Editors notes

Seedball was founded by two conservation scientists wanting to boost biodiversity and help wildlife.

Seedball Ltd is an innovative organisation on a mission to help increase the abundance of British wildflowers and the wildlife that depends upon them.

Owned by Project Maya – a non-profit enterprise - Seedball manufactures wildflower seed balls using a unique innovation of wildflower seeds mixed with clay, peat-free compost and chilli powder to naturally protect seeds from predators. Its products are sold in over 500 stores in the UK, including Kew Gardens, The Woodland Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, as well as online retailers such as Crocus and Marie Curie. Each year, Seedball also donates products to hundreds of schools and community groups to help support their nature projects.