Fun and Easy Garden Crafts To Do With Kids

Five fun & cost-effective garden crafts for kids

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Getting Kids Involved in Gardening

Help get your kids involved in the garden by combining creativity with conservation through these five garden crafts that support bees, pollinators, and wildlife.

These five craft ideas are a great way to teach kids about the importance of pollinators and the environment while also having fun with hands-on projects.

These are all simple, low-cost projects you can do at home in any size garden, and they offer lasting benefits for both your garden and the wildlife that visits.

Why Garden Crafts Are Important for Pollinators and Wildlife

Engaging Kids with Nature: Hands-on crafts help children connect with nature and understand the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem, they can learn gardening and crafting skills while having fun learning about the outdoors.
Encouraging Environmental Stewardship: Crafting projects that support wildlife foster a sense of responsibility and teach children the importance of conservation from a young age, helping them to foster a healthy relationship with nature.
Creating Habitat and Food for Pollinators: These small projects, like making bee hotels or planting pollinator-friendly plants, directly benefit bees and other pollinators while improving the garden ecosystem, so they’re good for the wildlife and for your garden.

Garden Craft #1: DIY Bee Hotel

Materials Needed: Wooden box, bamboo canes or hollow twigs, pine cones, twigs or straw, natural twine, and non-toxic paint (optional).
How-to Instructions:
- Build a simple frame using a wooden box or a piece of untreated scrap wood.
- Cut bamboo or hollow twigs into various lengths (about 5 inches) and fill the box with these tubes, making sure they are tightly packed.
- Fill spaces around the tubes with twigs or straw for some insulation.
- Optional: Decorate the box with non-toxic paint for a fun, colorful touch.
- Place the bee hotel in a sunny, sheltered spot in your garden where solitary bees can easily access it.
Why It’s Beneficial: This project creates a safe place for solitary bees to nest and find shelter, providing a vital resource for pollination.

View our full Bee Hotel Guide here for more information.

Garden Craft #2: Create a Pollinator-Friendly Seed Bomb

Materials Needed: Wildflower seeds (native pollinator-friendly varieties), compost, clay powder, water, and a mixing bowl.
How-to Instructions:
- Mix compost, clay powder, and water in a bowl to create a dough-like consistency.
- Add the wildflower seeds to the mixture and gently knead until the seeds are evenly distributed.
- Roll the mixture into small balls (about the size of a marble) and leave them to dry.
- Once dry, the seed bombs can be tossed into garden beds, bare soil areas, flower beds or any part of the yard that could use some extra pollinator-friendly plants.
Why it’s Beneficial: Seed bombs help spread wildflowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, providing them with the nectar and pollen they need.

For more information about choosing bee-friendly flowers, check out our guide here.

Garden Craft #3: Build a Bird Feeder

Materials Needed: Pinecone, peanut butter (or lard), birdseed, string or twine.
How-to Instructions:
- Tie a string to the top of a pinecone, then spread a layer of peanut butter (or lard) over the scales of the pinecone.
- Roll the pinecone in birdseed until it is well coated.
- Hang the pinecone in a tree or shrub in your garden, making it easily accessible for birds and wildlife.
Why Its Beneficial: This simple project helps feed local birds, attracting them to your garden and contributing to biodiversity. While birds enjoy the feeder, other wildlife like squirrels might also benefit from the seeds and the added fats from the peanut butter, especially in winter!

Garden Craft #4: Bee & Butterfly Puddling Station

Materials Needed: Shallow dish or saucer, small rocks or pebbles, water, sand (optional) non-toxic paint (optional).
How-to Instructions:
- Fill a shallow dish or saucer with water, and add small rocks or pebbles to create resting spots for butterflies bees to drink safely from.
- Optional: Add a bit of sand to mimic the natural environment of a puddling station, where butterflies often gather to drink and gather minerals.
- Optional: Paint the rocks in bring colours and designs with non-toxic paints and let dry fully before adding to puddling station
- Place the puddling station in a sunny spot in the garden and check regularly for visiting butterflies.
Why It’s Beneficial: This project provides a much-needed water source for bees and butterflies, allowing them to hydrate and gather minerals, especially on hot days. It’s an essential addition to any bee-friendly garden.

Find out more about adding water sources to your garden here.

Garden Craft #5: Planting a Pollinator Garden

Materials Needed: Bee-friendly seeds or young plants (e.g., lavender, alliums, sunflowers), soil, pots, or garden bed.
How-to Instructions:
- Choose a variety of pollinator-friendly plants that will bloom at different times of the year to provide continuous food for bees and butterflies. Check out our bee friendly flower guide for plant suggestions ad flowering times.
- With the help of the kids, plant these in containers or in a pollinator friendly flower bed in the garden.
- Discuss with children the importance of different plants, like lavender and wildflowers, and why they attract pollinators.
- Teach kids how to water and care for the plants, and let them track the growth and changes throughout the seasons. Sunflowers can be a great option for kids to see who’s can grow tallest!
Why It’s Beneficial: This project provides bees and other pollinators with a diverse range of flowers for nectar and pollen, helping to support their health and improve the garden’s biodiversity too.

Find out which plants are bee-friendly here.

Connecting with nature

These garden craft ideas will keep the kids occupied while getting them engaged with the outdoors and learning about nature too. These crafts will contribute to the well-being of pollinators and wildlife, and help you to cultivate a nature friendly garden.

By getting the kids involved you can foster a love for nature that your kids will carry through life, and show them that even small actions can make a big difference for pollinators and wildlife in the garden!