How British Garden Centres can help Children during Mental Health Week

Children’s Mental Health Week, an initiative by children’s mental health charity, Place2Be aims to empower, equip, and give a voice to all children and young people in the UK.

Taking place from today Feb 3rd to 9th, it highlights the importance of children’s mental well-being and what better way to do this than by encouraging gardening with British Garden Centres.

Getting our hands dirty in the garden offers a unique blend of physical activity, connection with nature, and a sense of accomplishment. From planting seeds to watching them grow, gardening can nurture a child’s curiosity, patience, and resilience – all vital ingredients for a healthy mind.  We’ve put together some top ideas to do with children that will grow their love of gardening, whilst boosting their minds at the same time.

Seed sowing

We are in prime seed sowing season and watching a seed transform into a thriving plant is incredibly rewarding for children, boosting their confidence and encouraging them to take pride in what they grow. Hardy vegetables like broad beans, peas, and early carrots can be sown directly into pots or seed trays, whilst sweet peas, antirrhinums geraniums, petunias, and impatiens can also be sown. They require warm conditions to germinate and will benefit from plenty of light and water, so place them in a greenhouse or propagator where your child can watch them grow.

Wildflower seed bomb

Making a wildflower seed bomb is a fun and educational activity for children and will build both their happiness and excitement. They are easy to make too, just buy some wildflower seed mix from your British Garden Centres store, combine it with soil or compost, and clay powder if you have this to hand.  Add water to form a moist mixture and add the wildflower seeds. Roll the mixture into small balls and allow them to dry. Then let your child have fun by throwing the seed bombs in your garden, improving biodiversity while providing a sense of accomplishment as they watch the wildflowers bloom.

Plant your own tray garden

Children can significantly boost their mental well-being by creating their own tray gardens. This hands-on experience allows them to learn about different plants and can be tailored to a theme of their choosing.  Whether it be a fairy garden, a sporting theme, cars, dinosaurs, their favourite TV programme or an underwater world, British Garden Centres stock plants, gravel, compost and everything else to make their vision come to life.

Paint your own garden stones

Painting garden stones is a wonderful activity for children, particularly during Children’s Mental Health Week, as it offers a range of therapeutic benefits. All you need are some flat stones from your garden and your little Picassos can paint designs ranging from flowers and animals to patterns or plant markers to make the flower beds and containers a brighter place.  An ideal lesson in focus and concentration, once dry, the painted stones can be proudly displayed in gardens, windowsills, or shared with friends to spread the joy.

Grow your own grass caterpillar

Get your children to start making their pet grass caterpillars for Children’s Mental Health Week.  This is so easy to do and great fun for all involved!  First, buy some grass seed and compost from your local garden and mix them both together. Find a pair of tights and put your mixture of grass seed and compost into the tights, tie some string around several areas of the length to create the caterpillar’s segments.  Get creative by glueing on googly eyes and using pipe cleaners to make wiggly legs and antennae. Place your caterpillar outside in a sunny spot and water it regularly. The kids will love seeing the grass fur sprout and give their caterpillars haircuts and silly names.

Amy Stubbs, Development and Projects Manager at British Garden Centres said: “Gardening isn’t just about growing plants; it’s about cultivating growth and confidence for children, resilience, and fostering a connection with nature that can profoundly benefit their mental well-being. Let’s encourage our children to get their hands dirty and discover the joy of gardening this Children’s Mental Health Week.”

British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 68 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by The Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.