Gardener Jackie Herald encourages children to get green fingered
Jackie Herald Garden Designer - Credit: Archant
Kentish Town designer is inspiring children to discover the joy of plants during lockdown.
Jackie Herald Garden Designer - Credit: Archant
Kentish Town garden designer Jackie Herald is inspiring children to discover the joy of plants during lockdown.
With other garden experts she has produced a 10-week plan of fun activities for youngsters - even if they only have a windowbox.
Designing a garden for the future, growing pea shoots, and Jackie’s suggestion of making plant pots from old toilet rolls to grow a beanstalk, are all part of Sudocrem’s Back to The Garden campaign.
“Gardening is healthy, practical, fun, and educational but it also feeds the imagination,” said Jackie who lives off Brecknock Road and has designed many local gardens including a playground at Tufnell Park School.
“Encouraging children to plant seeds and take an interest in growing can give them a project to focus on away from the computer.”
Jackie is “passionate about designing gardens for children and families” taking into account issues such as health and allergies. Her own seven-metre wide courtyard garden and front garden are packed with herbs, wisteria, a pergola and bamboo shoots.
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“One of the nice things about lockdown is spending more time than usual in my own garden,” she says.
For Back to the Garden she chose projects that are simple to get hold of.
“Seeds that children can enjoy sowing safely that are suitable for people who only have a balcony or limited space. Children are very keen on plants and saving the planet. They can repurposing loo roll egg boxes or mushroom containers to make cardboard pots for runner bean seeds. Pop in soil, and make a stick from garden cane painted in 10cm stripes to give some support and you can measure how high your beanstalk grows, then write your own version of the fairytale.”
Another suggestion is growing callendula, or pot marigolds “with lovely names like Orange Porcupine and Indian Prince, they have edible leaves you can scatter in salads or make a lovely posy for mum. Keep cutting and it should repeat flower until September.”
