Horticulture and landscaping supported contributions of £2.8bn towards GDP and over 64,000 jobs in Scotland in 2019, with projections indicating this could rise significantly by 2030* as we grow a green economy.

Data also shows, however, that the horticulture industry is facing a potential shortage in labour supply that could limit the industry’s capacity to grow. The sector is also struggling to attract new talent and can be perceived as unattractive and poorly remunerated, leading to a reliance on seasonal migrant labour, which has also declined since the pandemic and Brexit regulations.

In order to address the growing skills shortage in Scottish horticulture and to secure the skills pipeline, we need to put horticulture on the curriculum to address young people at grassroots level.

Until that happens, though, it is incumbent upon us all to try to engage our next generation in seeing the potential in the horticultural sector and to experience the myriad of benefits which gardening brings, even if the prospect of a horticultural career isn’t appealing.

Gardening offers a multitude of benefits for people of all ages, but its impact on children is particularly profound. Engaging children in gardening from a young age nurtures their curiosity, teaches responsibility, and fosters a lifelong appreciation for nature.

This year, we’ve witnessed some exciting initiatives aimed at involving children in the world of horticulture, ensuring that the gardeners of tomorrow are being inspired today.

Activities to Get Children Gardening

For parents, grandparents, and carers looking to nurture a child’s green thumb, here are a few simple yet effective activities to try during the last few weeks of the summer holidays.

Create a Miniature Garden

Help children design and plant their own small garden using containers or a dedicated patch in the garden, perhaps delineated by a few pieces of wood or stones. They can choose their favourite flowers, vegetables, or herbs to plant, care for, and watch grow to foster a sense of responsibility in caring for their own miniature garden.

Garden Crafts

Incorporate creativity with gardening by making garden markers, bird feeders, bug hotels, or painted pots. These activities blend art and nature, making gardening more enjoyable and personal.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Organise a scavenger hunt in the garden or local park where children can search for various plants, insects, and garden tools. This fun activity teaches them about different species and the ecosystem while keeping them active.

Growing from Kitchen Scraps

Show children how to grow plants from kitchen scraps, like potatoes, carrots, or lettuce. This not only recycles waste but also teaches them about plant life cycles and sustainability.

Story Time in the Garden

Combine reading and gardening by sharing stories about plants, animals, and nature while sitting in the garden. Books that feature gardens or nature themes can inspire children to explore and learn more about their surroundings.

Plants to Inspire Children

Giving children their own positive experience by introducing them to inspiring plants can create lasting memories.

Flowers like sunflowers, marigolds, and poppies are easy to grow from seed and show the variety of seed sizes and forms.

Introduce a range of sensory plants to engage the senses of sight, touch, and smell like rattling poppy seedheads, furry Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), or smelly curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), and chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus).

Quick-growing edibles can awaken a deep appreciation for food growing and the bigger the variety, the more knowledge is imparted. Radish, Swiss chard ‘Bright Lights’, and lettuce are all quick-growing crops, and courgettes, runner beans, and carrots will introduce children to different growing forms.

Edible flowers are a useful learning experience too to teach children that many plants produce both leaves and flowers which can be consumed, from the stalks and flowers of delicate chives to the peppery leaves and blooms of nasturtium.

Gardening with children is not just about planting seeds in the ground; it’s about planting the seeds of curiosity, responsibility, and a love for the environment in young hearts and minds. As we continue to champion larger initiatives that engage children in gardening and push to see horticulture on the curriculum, we can all do something where we can to encourage a greener, more knowledgeable, and passionate generation of gardeners and horticulturists.

_{*Unlocking Green Growth, OHRG 2021}

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