When I was a young, chubby, little bright orange haired child, I vividly remember playing in the garden with my sister. My mum would be pottering about in the back ground, either hanging out laundry but mostly doing something in the garden. At such a young age I wasn’t sure what she was doing really but thought it fascinating.

It was only when we moved from Bookham, Surrey to Ashtead, Surrey when I was 5 and a half that I really became interested in all those curious activities my mum was doing with the soil and began asking questions.
Gardening for my mum was, and still is, a massive part of her life. She learnt much of what she needed to know from her dad, where he got the gardening bug from I don’t know because I never got to ask him sadly.

But having watched and learnt so much from my mum as she went about the garden, I know how important it was to allow children the opportunity and enjoyment of getting out in the garden. Getting dirty, oh and we got very dirty was all part of the fun. Experiencing the sights and smells of the plants, finding wiggly worms and holding them and watching them figure out how to get off your hand by flailing their heads about.

Also discovering what plants not to touch (stinging nettles mainly), and that trying to stroke a bee means it’ll sting you….my sister knows about that all too well.

When my children were little they were always out in the garden with me. The time my daughter, wearing only a Terry’s nappy and plastic pants, sat in a hole in the soil she’d made and then poured water in that hole and covered herself in mud will always be with me.

My son who got fed up of painting on rolls of old wallpaper on the grass and decided to then paint himself instead was another classic example of what mischief my kids got up to regularly. Always under my supervisory eye. It was all good clean fun and a warm bath was always waiting for them when they’d finished.

This is going to make me sound like an old fuddy duddy, and maybe I am, I am nearly 52 after all, but it doesn’t seem to me that little ones don’t get to explore these things as much as they used to, which really makes me sad.

So to encourage them back out into the wild I’ve put together some little growing packs to help them.
My Lottie and Dottie books are only available directly from me and will make the perfect birthday gift, Easter treat, or just because you want to buy a gift for someone you know will love it.
They are suitable for little ones between the age of 3-7 years, give or take a bit as all children are different.

For just £10 plus p&p you will get the following:
Signed book, wooden spoon label and some seeds to get you going.

The wooden spoon labels, which have been hand painted by my daughter Emily, are sealed with varnish. She’s a clever little soul.

If you would like any please email me at: clairesallotment@gmail.com and I will get them into the mail for you.

Postage will vary depending on where you are, but I cannot post seeds out of the UK. All this can be discussed via email.

I have the following available:

Sunflowers – ONLY 1 REMAINING!

Pumpkins – LIMITED STOCK

Carrots – QUITE LIMITED STOCK

I am less chubby than I was when I was 5 and a half, much taller, and the bright orange hair is now a more deep auburn….with a few white hairs trying to pop through. But I’m still fascinated by everything about gardening and love what challenges and life it all brings every year. So let’s start the next generation off gardening with a flying start.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Happy gardening!

Claire xx