5 Fun and Easy Allotment Gardening Activities for Kids

Welcome, fellow garden adventurers! Are you ready to sprinkle some magic into your allotment garden with your little helpers? Today, we’re exploring 5 fun-filled allotment activities guaranteed to keep those tiny green thumbs busy and buzzing with excitement. There are occasions when we need to get on with some of the heavier lifting at the allotment and so these activities are ideal for keeping your kids active and productive at the allotment while you get on with your tasks. These activities can be adjusted to make them suitable for families without an allotment or a garden just by using any public green space you have access to and permission to use.

Activity 1: Seed Bombs and Guerrilla Gardening

Let’s kick things off with a bang – quite literally! Gather your troops and embark on a mission to spread floral joy throughout your garden, allotment or even your neighbourhood with homemade seed bombs. We all know how important it is to attract the bees and other pollinators to our gardens and creating patches of untouched wild flowers is ideal for doing this. Did you know that we have lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1930s? Seeds bombs or taking part in campaigns like No Mow May can be a good opportunity to discuss these issues with your children while taking a positive step to help. Simply mix together seeds, clay or mud, and compost, then let your kids roll, mould, and shape these eco-friendly grenades. Once armed and ready, set out to brighten up forgotten corners of your garden or your designated wildflower corner with bursts of colour and unexpected greenery.

Activity 2: Scarecrow Shenanigans

This is actually an activity I have planned for this year and even have a post erected in the allotment for when we get started. Back left corner in the photo below is our chosen scarecrow site. This will be an opportunity to put any old clothes and perhaps a straw hat to good use! Get your creative juices flowing as you and your little ones fashion your very own scarecrow guardian to watch over your precious plants. From wacky outfits to googly eyes and floppy hats, let your imaginations run wild as you bring your scarecrow to life! Come back later in the year to read all about how we get on. We do have an area for the birds set aside at the allotment, read more about that below, but we want to try our best to keep them away from our plants.

Activity 3: Nature Treasure Art Attack

Unleash your inner artist with a nature treasure art extravaganza! This is an activity I frequently do with the kids during forest school days and it always goes down really well with all age groups. Pack some Play Doh or simply use some mud and a palette of colourful nature finds – think leaves, grasses, twigs, berries and seeds – and let your kids’ creativity run riot. From leafy sculptures, pretend food and mud masks stuck to trees or fences, the only limit is your children’s imagination (and your ability to deal with the muddy result)!

Activity 4: If you build it, they will come

Another activity we have planned for this year is building a bug hotel, see below for my inspiration and come back later in the year to hear all about how we build ours. Transforming your garden into a bustling oasis for insects is a fun activity, and building a bug hotel is the perfect way to roll out the welcome mat for our tiny, six-legged friends. To start the process off I have 4 pallets from our zero waste site and have left those up to the allotment. Place the pallets or heavier materials in final position in a sunny spot as you will not be moving these again. You can then begin gathering a variety of materials – think sturdy branches, hollow bamboo, pine cones, and old bricks – anything that can provide nooks and crannies for bugs to nestle in. Stack these materials in layers, alternating textures and sizes to create a diverse habitat that appeals to a wide range of insects. Don’t forget to add some leaf litter and dried grass for extra coziness! As you assemble your bug hotel, let your children’s imagination run wild – perhaps a rustic roof of wooden tiles or a whimsical doorway made from a hollowed-out log. Once complete, sit back, and watch as it becomes a buzzing hive of activity, providing shelter for bees, homes for ladybugs, and hideaways for all manner of fascinating critters.

Activity 5: Create a Bird Cafe

Create a bird paradise in your garden by opening a bird cafe! Creating a bird cafe is a delightful endeavor that not only brings joy to our feathered friends but also adds a charming touch of nature to your outdoor space. Start by selecting the perfect location – a quiet corner with a view, preferably near trees or shrubs for natural cover. Next, set the scene with a variety of bird-friendly amenities. Hang bird feeders filled with a mix of seeds, nuts, and suet cakes to cater to different bird species’ tastes. Provide fresh water in a shallow birdbath or fountain for drinking and bathing pleasures. Add nesting boxes or birdhouses to offer shelter and encourage nesting activity. Lastly, adorn your bird cafe with perches and branches for resting spots and lookout points. With a little creativity and care, your garden will soon be buzzing with the melodious symphony of feathered patrons enjoying their cafe retreat.

Want More Ideas for Allotment Activities?

And there you have it 5 fun and easy allotment gardening activities guaranteed to delight kids of all ages. Let me know in the comments if you try any of these and come back next time for another 5 activity ideas which you and your green fingered kids can get stuck into.