For families

Delve into our garden shed of fun activities for the kids throughout the seasons. Explore things to do, games to play and recipes to bake. There's lots to do outdoors and indoors, come rain or shine

A family plant seeds in the garden
A 'scare mow' Play Video
Video

How to create your own 'scaremow'


Are you taking part in 'No Mow May' this year? Making a 'scaremow' for your garden is a fun way of getting your kids involved and spreading the word to your neighbours. You can construct yours with plant pots, old clothes and other things you might have lying around the house. Take a look at this video for inspiration.

Gardening activities

Children winding runner beans on bamboo supports in the garden at Kingston Lacy, Dorset.

Make a bamboo bean support

Using similar length bamboo canes, push them into the soil, at equal distances, creating a circle. Pinch the tips together and tie together with twine. Starting from the top, weave the twine under and over the canes until you reach the bottom. Plant some beans and they'll climb up the poles as they grow.

Drawn hedgehog and a wooden sign post

Grow some lettuce (PDF) 

Lettuce is an easy vegetable to sow and grow. Burgon & Ball have created an exciting activity sheet to help you grow some delicious lettuce, perfect for summery salads and crunchy sandwiches.

Mother and daughter in the garden picking peas

Plant some peas

Peas are another vegetable that you can begin to sow in May. You'll love watching them grow in the garden waiting till you can pop open a pod to reveal the little green peas inside. You'll find lots of delicious dishes that you can make with peas.

Create a secret garden

Two children searching for things in the bushes in the Kitchen Garden at Osterley Park and House, London
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The common frog
Child's cute plimsolls on a lawn with daisies on a spring day out
Finished bee house in a sheltered spot outside

Top tips for growing a secret garden

Spring is a great time for the whole family to get gardening. We've pulled together some top tips for how you can grow your very own secret garden.

Choose your space

Choose a small part of your garden, a pot or window box to grow your favourite flowers from seed. Create a wild walkway with your flowers.

Design a nature reserve

Make a mini-nature reserve, where toads and newts can hide during the colder days. You can do this by putting a pile of bricks or logs in a sheltered spot that is cool and damp.

Let your lawn go wild

You might be surprised at how many flowers you can spot if you the let the grass grow in spring. Little clusters of daisies and maybe even some bright daffodils might pop up in your secret garden.

A secret haven for bees 

Make a bee hotel with some bits of wood or and some short bamboo canes. Put it in a dry and sheltered place and wait for the visitors to arrive.

Children running through daffodils in springtime at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire

'50 things' springtime adventures 

Spring is a great time to run wild in the fresh air and try some of our top family-friendly adventures. From racing snails, to bringing up butterflies, there’s a lot to discover at this time of year with '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.

Bake it
Freshly baked sausage rolls on a lined baking tray

Sausage rolls 

These crisp and flaky sausage rolls are great to make with the family. They're the perfect snack for lunchboxes, after school snacking or weekend adventures in the garden or out and about. Plus, they can also be made ahead of time and cut into whatever finger-size bites you want.

Read the recipe
Make a pizza with a funny face

More recipes 

We love food and we've got some great recipes to prove it. We've got our favourite family bakes if the weather keeps you indoors, or take a look at some of our simple snacks perfect for outdoor adventures if the sun is shining.

Share the joy
Boy and girl walking through a garden holding gardening tools

Get gardening with Burgon & Ball 

The whole family will love digging, sowing and growing in the garden with the colourful children's range from Burgon & Ball. With gardening tools and accessories, you'll find everything you need, from buckets and gloves to spades and kneelers, on our online shop.

Children running up the path to the holiday cottage

Plan your summer staycation 

With plenty of availability over the summer, it's time to book your 2021 getaway. Get ready to laugh around the breakfast table in a medieval castle, play family games in the garden of your seaside dwelling or take woodland strolls straight from the front door of your leafy nook.

Things to do

Get some inspiration for activities to do on your own or with family. You won't be short of things to do this spring.

Ideas for things to do