Products Children’s Gifts
ADD VALUE WITH…
CHILDREN’S GIFTS Garden centres can encourage the next generation of gardeners – and it can prove lucrative too
I
a growing trend too, particularly since the rst loc down. With everybody at home over the last two years, it has seen huge growth. With the challenging times we’ve all been through, getting kids outside and engaging with the natural world has brought huge mental and physical health ene ts and fa ilies are keen to encourage their youngsters. These are tomorrow’s gardeners we’re talking about; getting kids into gardening at a young age nurtures an interest which will last a lifetime.” So, what types of products can garden centres stock to encourage young gardeners? “Products that are fun, colourful and engaging certainly help engage children and make them enjoy their experience more. Having their own tools give them some ownership and responsibility which they love,” comments Ireland. “Gardening and Explorer Kits are a great way for kids to take some ownership in the great outdoors offering
t’s National Children’s Gardening Week at the end of May. From 28 May to 5 June, a packed schedule of activities will be taking place to encourage children to enjoy the great outdoors and learn a bit about gardening in the process. Garden centres across the UK will be getting involved in the annual event, but also throughout the year to engage the younger, greenn ered eneration. “Garden centres are key to inspiring children to get outside and into their gardens,” says Bigjigs Toys’ operations director Sam Ireland. “Helping to build a gardening culture will only help garden centres to thrive going forward. Some of the best examples I have seen are garden centres offering open days for kids to come along and learn how to grow different types of fruits,
e eta les and flowers. ettin children involved and active is so important.” It’s a great way of getting children back outdoors with nature too, says a spokesman for Willsow, which has created the rst plantable children’s book. “Outdoor play is essential for child development and there are a whole host of ene ts to ardenin ranging from mental health to vitamin D. It’s all about making it exciting for them, making sure there’s no pressure and that being out in the garden is a happy escape from where they know they’re allowed to get messy.” Rainer Schubert, managing director at Burgon & Ball, says it’s
Happy Bee Edition Sprout pencils
Gardening Caddy Bigjigs Toys Ltd
The Plantable Children’s Book Willsow
Sprout pencils can be planted after use and grow into herbs, flowers and e eta les. The Happy Bee Edition gives a helping hand to the threatened bees. The Sprout appy ee dition contains e eco friendly and biodegradable Sprout graphite pencils, with decomposable cellulose seedcapsules for her s flowers or e eta les.
Ideal for gardens or window boxes, the Kids Garden Caddy is packed with children’s garden tools and everything young gardeners need to get started. The garden caddy comes with 11 play pieces in total, including gardening gloves, a ruler, a trowel, a fork, a rake and more. Each gardening tool is designed with little hands in mind.
Willsow books are 100% biodegradable, making a great, eco-friendly gift alternative. The cover pages are embedded with around 500 non-GMO which means the kids can tear off the back page and grow real herbs and vegetables.
RRP . for a pac of e Launch date Available now www.sproutworld.com
RRP £29.99 Launch date April 2022 www.bigjigstoys.co.uk
36
Garden Centre Retail April/May 2022
Add value with.indd 36
Helping to build a gardening culture will only help garden centres to thrive going forward
RRP £9.99 Launch date Available now www.willsow.com
www.gardencentreretail.com
06/04/2022 16:35
