Gardening has always been a perfect children’s activity. It combines muck and magic, a chance to get messy, and the promise of great things from even the tiniest seed. As the large family garden is a rarity these days, even a sunny kitchen window can give a child the chance to grow a whole range of herbs, salads and flowers, and, what’s more, they can keep an eye on progress while they munch on their breakfast.

Perhaps, more importantly, while children may think they are simply having fun, they will also be learning about gardening, from topics such as seed sowing and the germination process to the thinning out of crops and the importance of pollinators.

As their confidence grows, so their imagination and natural curiosity will hopefully lead them to explore this hobby further, taking part in the school gardening club, or even creating a small garden of their own.

Add some magic to your lawn in the spring by planting crocus bulbs to create your very own fairy rings. Even if no fairies appear, the rings are still a great place for having a picnic and playing. Best of all, the flowers will appear again every spring.

You will need:

• piece of string, 20 in (50cm) in length
• tent peg
• plastic water bottle
• play sand
• special bulb planter
• crocus bulbs

fairy rings