Start 'em young

Chris Howard|12:20 UK time, Monday, 22 June 2009

Time for that more thoughtful post that I promised about Gardeners' World Live.

Here's proof that I really do hang around with celebrities - it's Jelly and I, just after performing on the Countryfile stage at Gardener's World Live. Well, 'performance' might be a tad rich, but I certainly enjoyed getting up there and belting out the Green Balloon Club chant, much to the surprise (and probable disgust) of the Gardener's World crowd. We even made the poor Countryfile Magazine editor Cav join in.

Although if you read his blog, he fails to mention me. I spend my life being upstaged by that green thing!

Although the term 'preaching to the converted' could have been invented for this very situation, it was amazing to hear all the kids' stories of getting out there and enjoying nature - from bug lovers to bird feeders, sunbathers to veg growers, everyone had a story to tell and enjoyed the great outdoors in their own way.

So I thought I would pull together some links to a few of my favourite (and simple) things that you can do in the garden or park with kids. A good place to look is on the websites of the major wildlife organisations - most of them have kids' sections.

The Wildlife Trust run Wildlife Watch

which kids can join and find events to join in with near them.

The RSPB youth sitehas loads of bird stuff, of course, but also things to do like making bird cakes - easy, messy and totally rewarding.

Take a look at the Buglife pagesfor instructions on how to make a wormery and bug hotel. It's so important to look after the little things in life.

Something we all probably take for granted is water, but don't forget that ponds and water sources are vital for wildlife. Froglife's Just Add Water campaign aims to get more ponds built. As a project, ponds are ace and will keep kids entertained year after year.

And you can also try to make your garden more wildlife friendly - the Wildlife Gardener website has loads of ways that you can do that.

But what if you can't get the little treasures out there in the first place? For me, it is about stimulation. TV provides it inside, but there is plenty outside if you are willing to look. Even something as simple as putting a climbing frame out amongst the veg can help - Ann told me that someone had done it on her allotment and now kids clamour to come down and visit.

From my experience, if you put the time in with them then you can always find something for kids to do. Whether it's digging a hole with their own spade or a trowel, planting seeds, weeding or watering - the important thing is getting them involved. The temptation is to shoo them off if they get in the way; but by starting with a few easy tasks they will soon learn the ropes.

And you never know - they might end up like the amazing Amelia (pictured above) who came to see us at Gardener's World. She's not even three years old yet, but has her own patch with courgette and okra plants, and even calls herself after Green Balloon's Lily-Rose when she is in the garden! She was a real inspiration and shows what you can do with the youngest of kids with a little effort.

Of course, she also loved Jelly more than Nature Chris. Like I said - always upstaged...

If you have any ideas/experiences then please share them here. I am passionate about getting kids outside and enjoy what nature has to offer, so I would love to hear what you've done to encourage that.

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The Dig In campaign has finished now. Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign throughout 2009 and 2010. We hope you enjoyed growing the Dig In seeds, especially those of you who are new to growing vegetables. This site is no longer being updated, but it is still packed full of useful information about growing veg.

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Expert authors

Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - check out his website for details. He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with BBC Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at Capel Manor College, Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the BBC Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

Peter Horrocks has an allotment in Newcastle. He's the regional rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners in the North of England & Scotland, the secretary of the Newcastle Allotments Working Group. Plus, Peter is secretary of a ten-acre allotments site in Newcastle, considered by many to be one of the best in the city.

Ben Raskin is an advisor with the Soil Association, as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.