Toddlers getting started on their gardening journey

Stepping Stones Nursery in Surrey have recently achieved their Level 1 RHS School Gardening Award. Here we find out about how a neglected plot has become a much-loved garden and pick up some tips when creating a garden for children under five years old.

30 January 2024

Work began at Stepping Stones Nursery in Hinchley Wood, Surrey, to clear brambles, remove litter, debris and large rocks and prune some of the tree branches from a plot of neglected land at the front of the nursery that staff thought had the potential to be a garden. 

A fence was added, an existing fence fixed and peat-free compost brought in to create raised oblong beds. Pathways were then made using bark chipping and compost bays built. Finally, a water butt was installed. Lara Dodson, former teaching assistant and now part-time volunteer gardener, led the work.

Learning along the way

Once the area had been made safe, the children, who are all aged three and four, started gardening. The children go out in groups of five or six, a couple of mornings each week, to garden with Lara. In the first growing season, they sowed, planted, watered and harvested potatoes in bags, peas, broad beans, lettuce, spinach, radish, beetroot, peppers in pots and tomatoes. They also planted mint, chives and oregano in the sensory herb patch and flowers such as hollyhocks, strawflowers, snapdragons and cornflowers.

“Straight away it was clear that the children enjoyed being outside in the fresh air having fun. They go out in all weathers and love being given jobs.”

- Jo Wilkinson, Penguins class teacher

Without knowing it, the children are learning along the way; taking turns, following instructions, being patient and respecting nature. Jo told us they are always keen to pull on their coats and wellies and come back into the classroom buzzing. 

“I like it when we get to wear our wellies in the mud. I love digging to find loads of wriggly worms.” 

- Oli, age 4

Give it a go

The children particularly enjoy activities such as watering, seed sowing and harvesting fruit and veg. Lara explains that she is often led by the children and what they like doing. Her motto is to ‘give it a go’ and she’s been amazed by what has worked. Last summer, the children harvested salad, runner beans, peppers, tomatoes and strawberries – the latter two still cropping in late October.

Five activities nursery children enjoy in the garden

In the autumn, the children planted spring bulbs – tulips and daffodils – and sowed salad leaves, spinach and chard as well as planting garlic and onion sets. Cloches are providing some protection over the winter months.

For Lara, one of the most rewarding things has been seeing children who were initially quite shy grow in confidence, connect with nature and enjoy the satisfaction, responsibility and sense of pride as they learn new skills, do quite ‘grown up’ jobs and see plants they have sown or planted grow. 

“We get our water from the big tank and fill up our own watering cans. We water the flowers and seeds and the carrots so they can grow and then we can eat them all up at tea time.”

- Eddie, age 4

This two-part garden is evolving. The more structured space for growing edibles and flowers sits next to a more mature area that includes trees, shrubs, a small, very shallow pond and a bird feeder. The pond was created in 2022 and is perhaps one of the most popular additions to the garden. It is now well established with small plants and is being used by insects. It has sloping sides to ensure any wildlife can easily get out.

Highlights

“One of the children's gardening highlights was recycling chopped and cleared branches from the garden to make a log pile house for hedgehogs.” 

- Lara Dodson

Other high points include planting two small apple trees and releasing butterflies into the allotment. For Lara, getting birds established in the garden and a successful year-long bumper harvest makes all the hard work worthwhile. 

Future plans

What’s next? Seeing the garden mature and become an established part of the nursery has been rewarding for everyone involved. The children's families donated wellies, plant pots, wooden pallets, seeds, shrubs, gloves and leaves for composting, to support the nursery garden. 

  

Plans for the year ahead include installing a second water butt and getting the children to help build a bug hotel with pallets offered by a local school. The children have voted on what they want to sow and grow in the spring. Ideas include potatoes, sweetcorn, carrots and melons. The aim is to also have a year-long season of growing flowers and veg with more plants for pollinators. Bench seats made out of logs are also a priority so that the children have somewhere to sit in the garden.

“Achieving the Level 1 RHS School Gardening Award has been positively received by the whole nursery community. The awards give us structure, direction and a way of celebrating achievements.”

- Emma Cheadle, Headteacher