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Container Gardening - Session 4 Practical 1

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Session 3 & 4 Practical:  How to create spring/summer containers

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Session 3 & 4 Practical:  How to create spring/summer containers

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Container Gardening - Session 3 Practical 1

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Protect your birds, create simple, effective window decorations

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Protect your birds, create simple, effective window decorations

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Learning about UK birds that we see in our garden and creating a decoration to protect them from bumping into our glass windows in the sunlight. First part, sketching and learning what colours form on the feathers for different species.

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Part 2 - Adding some more details to the wings

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Part 3 - finished decoration! Laminated and ready to hang in your window - will help protect against birds flying into the glass and injuring themselves.

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Finding a place to locate our new bee hotel

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Finding a place to locate our new bee hotel

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Really simple and so effective - this small area now dedicated to our wonderful bees can be found in our wildlife pond area, dug slightly in to the ground our pot filled loosely with nesting materials - moss, grasses and fern will provide an excellent place for our bees to gather. Well done all today, some great wildlife and environmental work achieved.

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Well signed so that everyone knows not to disturb this very important place whilst the bees are at work

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Woodland forraging for organic resources - bug and bee hotels

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Woodland forraging for organic resources - bug and bee hotels

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Wandering in the woodland, collecting sticks, moss, leaf litter and all things organic for our new bee and bug hotels.

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Pond dipping - great fun for all the family

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Pond dipping - great fun for all the family

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Today we made some really exciting finds by spending a little time pond dipping in the wildlife pond at CARE - including 20 newts (3 different species), pond beetles, midge larvae and damselfly chrysalis. Also a water boatman, pond skater, water snail and a wireworm.

Some newts are protected species - take a look a the link to find out more.

Pond dipping is a great family activity and many local natural environments offer it - Cannock Chase Visitor Centre, Wolseley Gardens and Wildlife Trust - search on-line for more information and find out what's most local to you.

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The NHBS Guide to UK Amphibian Identification

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The UK is home to seven native species of amphibian. Over the winter, these frogs, toads and newts have all been hibernating, but it will soon be time for them to venture out to their breeding ponds and pools. If you're lucky, you will be able to spot them when you're out and about.

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Attract more birds into your garden by making food available - try making your own simple bird feeders

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Attract more birds into your garden by making food available - try making your own simple bird feeders

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Beautiful family of birds - can you name them

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Beautiful family of birds - can you name them

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Creating colourful summer containers to attract bees and insects into your garden.

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Creating colourful summer containers to attract bees and insects into your garden.

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Learning to plant a range of colourful summer bedding plants, including geraniums, trailing lobelia and surfinias in a container / planter. Making sure the depth is correct and adding supplements to the soil.

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Written byCharles DowdingLast UpdatedApril 19, 2024

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have courses, free resources, books and encouragement for every step of your no dig journey. The learning resources you need are right here at your fingertips.

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No dig gardening - sowing seeds in a box - create a wildflower meadow patch

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No dig gardening - sowing seeds in a box - create a wildflower meadow patch

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Potting on baby spring onions - these are so tasty when a little bigger and added to a fresh garden salad!

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Potting on baby spring onions - these are so tasty when a little bigger and added to a fresh garden salad!

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Nick and Harry made a great job of carefully separating the delicate roots of the spring onions, filling plant pots that are the perfect size to allow the onions to develop to the next stage of growth, before repeating the process all over again!

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The Password is Pathways

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The RHS gives us lots of tips and advice of how to encourage wildlife into our gardens/outdoor space.

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RHS tips & advice for creating your own wildlife garden / RHS Gardening

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Need some help and advice about your garden? Search the advice from RHS to find out everything from growing your own plants, fruit & veg to winter pruning.

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Have you found one of these?Find out more about the beetles in your garden and how to identify them 

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Have you found one of these?Find out more about the beetles in your garden and how to identify them 

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Whether a majestic stag beetle, shiny chafer or stunning green tiger, the lumbering beetle is one of our favourite garden insects. Here is our guide to British beetle species, including where to see and how to identify them.

How many beetle species are there in the UK?

With over 4,000 species in the British Isles, many of which are very small, beetles are often portrayed as being a 'difficult' group, the preserve of experts. However, there are plenty of beetle species that are either large, brightly coloured or easy to identify in the field or from photos, such as ladybirds, stag beetles, and longhorn beetles. Around 40% of the UK's insects species are beetles.

Confirmations can always be sought at the ' I spot nature' identification site where your uploaded photos (of beetles, and indeed any organism) are regularly checked by experts and enthusiasts.

What do beetles eat?

British beetle species have a varied diet. Some species, such as the lesser stag beetle like to eat rotting wood, while the orange and black sexton beetle, favour decaying animals to lay their larvae.

Meanwhile, the dor beetle eats faeces from animals. Many other species prefer the pollen and nectar from plants.

How many legs does a beetle have?

Like all insects, beetles have six legs. Beetles have a head, thorax and abdomen, which its legs and wings are attached to.

British beetle species to spot

Green tiger beetle

With long legs and sharp jaws, this fearsome predator takes short flying leaps to attack prey or escape. It is very active on patches of sparsely vegetated or bare sandy or chalky soil.

Cockchafer

Mostly nocturnal, it is also called May-bug for its appearance in spring. Old reports note clouds of cockchafers banging on to lit windows or street lamps. Larvae are fat, pale, C-shaped maggots in the soil, feeding on grass.
Learn about cockchafers in this guide on the BBC Wildlife Magazine website
Rose chafer

This living jewel is metallic green all over. Unlike most beetles, it flies with its wing-cases closed and has a special notch at the side to accommodate its membraneous flight wings. It often sits on flowers.

Twenty-two-spot ladybird

The brightest lemon-yellow of any British beetle, this always has 22 round jet-black spots on its cheerful wing cases. A mildew feeder, it grazes on mould and fungal hyphae.

Whirligig beetle

This small, shiny oval beetle is so named because it swims in tightly, sometimes frenzied circles on the surface of ponds and slow moving rivers and streams. Here it hunts small creatures that fall onto the water. It can also dive to catch prey.

Violet ground beetle

A large (3cm long), fast-moving and aggressive beetle with a powerful bite that hunts worms, small slugs and other invertebrates. It roves at night in woods, meadows and gardens and has a distinctive purple sheen to its carapace. If alarmed, it gives over a rank smell.

7-spot ladybird

Our most familiar beetle and a nursery rhyme favourite with its bright red oval carapace with black spots. Still common though declining. Its dark-grey larva have a reptilian appearance and, like adults, prey voraciously on aphids.

Oil beetle

Up to 4cm long, these are hugely impressive insects with distinctively bulbous abdomens and are found commonly on meadow flowers, particularly celandines, in spring. There are five species in the UK and they are named for their shiny, oily appearance.

Soldier beetle

A raft of handsome species found on summer flowers (particularly thistles and umbellifers) and are fantastic pollinators. All have long, thin bodies. The red soldier is orange-red all over but with a black tip to its abdomen. Other species have black-grey heads and abdomens separated by red thoraxes.

Devil's coach-horse

Britain's largest rove beetle is a gothic monstrosity found under logs and stones. Its short wing-cases expose a flexible hind body - it will rear up and wave its large jaws menacingly, and it can nip.

Red-headed cardinal beetle

It is named for its papal colour scheme, which warns predators not to eat it as it contains poisons (harmless to pick up). Flat larvae, with two-pronged tail, feed under logs and bark.

Green tortoise beetle

Flattened and flanged, it clamps down on to its water-mint food-plant leaf if disturbed. The larvae keep hold of their dry excrement and moulted skins to make a predator-avoiding blob-parasol on their tail end.

Wasp beetle

This has deceptively wasp-like colours, plus striking red legs, jerky movements and hawking flight. Larvae feed in dead wood; adults are often seen in sunshine running on stacked logs, or buzzing over bramble flowers.

Stag beetle

The UK's largest beetle spends most of its life out of view. The larva feeds on dead wood below ground for five years before emerging as an adult. Only the male possesses the 'antlers', which are infact enlarged jaws. The stag beetle has declined due to a loss of dead wood habitat.
Learn about stag beetles in this guide on the BBC Wildlife Magazine website
Bloody nosed beetle

This handsome black beetle is flightless and can be seen walking along the ground or in low vegetation in April. It's often found in coastal areas and on grasslands in the south of the UK. The beetle's name comes from its defence strategy of exuding bright red fluid from its mouth when threatened.

Dor beetle

This large beetle has a distinctive black domed body that shines blue or violet in the light. It feeds on dung and is found in grasslands and woodlands grazed by sheep or cattle. The endless munching of dor beetles saves from being knee deep in animal dung.

Sexton beetle

This distinctive beetle has a black and orange patterning on its wing cases. It performs an important service in burying and recycling carrion (usually small mammals and birds). Its antennae are packed full of receptors enabling it to smell a dead animal up to a mile away.
Learn more about carrion beetles in this guide on the BBC Wildlife Magazine website.
Harlequin ladybird

The most invasive ladybird, the harlequin arrived in Britain in 2004 and has spread rapidly. This beetle has the potential to jeopardise many of our native ladybird species through competing for food or eating their larvae. It is very variable in appearance.

Great diving beetle

Both larvae and adults are voracious predators of tadpoles, aquatic insect larvae and small fish. The larvae have a scorpion-like appearance and live underwater for two years before transforming into the adult beetle. The 3cm long adults come to the surface regular to replenish their air supply by sticking their abdomen's out of the water.

Thick legged flower beetle

This spectacular shiny metallic green beetle is most often seen on flowers such as daisy, cow parsley and hawthorn blossom. Only the male has the thickened 'thighs' that give the beetle its name; it uses them to impress females. The larvae live in hollow plant stems.

Glow worm

The glow worm is not a worm but a beetle. Adult female glow worms are famed for their glow; they are wingless and double the size of the males. Glow worms like chalky or limestone grassland where there are plenty of snails and slugs for their larvae to feed on.
Learn how street lights interfere with glow worm courtship, on the BBC Wildlife Magazine website.
Whether you have a large space, or just a windowbox, you can make a bug hotel that not only provides sanctuary for a host of fascinating creatures but also allows you to get close to them.

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British beetle guide: where to see and how to identify

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Whether a majestic stag beetle, shiny chafer or stunning green tiger, the lumbering beetle is one of our favourite garden insects. Here is our guide to British beetle species, including where to see and how to identify them.

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Some great links to explore which will support today's session: 

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Some great links to explore which will support today's session: 

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Bird Identification made Easy
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/identify-a-bird/

Name that song -  Identify the birds singing in your garden:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-songs/what-bird-is-that/

https://www.british-birdsongs.uk/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/identify-bird-song/

How to care and rescue injured birds - what to do if you find an injured bird

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/injured-and-baby-birds/if-you-find-an-injured-bird/

CCTV Nesting boxes – live link to nesting birds:

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/webcams

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Get to know your birds - have you seen any of these?

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Get to know your birds - have you seen any of these?

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Congratulations on completing your course -with so many new things tried and achieved its always good to take a moment and remind ourselves just how far you have come and how much you have achieved.

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Do birds fly into your windows - help them not to crash land - make these simple window hangers 

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Do birds fly into your windows - help them not to crash land - make these simple window hangers 

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Watch the birds from this simple bird hide that you can make in your garden or outdoor space

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Watch the birds from this simple bird hide that you can make in your garden or outdoor space

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Look after your garden worms, they do a very important job in our soil!

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Look after your garden worms, they do a very important job in our soil!

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Activity sheet and top tips from the session

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Activity sheet and top tips from the session

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A fun quiz - find out how much you know about nature. Let us know how you get on

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A fun quiz - find out how much you know about nature. Let us know how you get on

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Great Diving Beetle ©Jack Perks

Insect quiz

How well do you know your insects?

Are you an expert entomologist or an insect novice? Answer these ten questions about insects to find out!

1. How many species of insect have been identified in the world?

a) 565,000

b) 925,000

c) 1,200,000

Answer

2. How many days (on average) does a bumblebee live for?

a) 19

b) 28

c) 36

Answer

3. How many different species of ladybird are there in the world?

a) 2000

b) 5000

c) 8000

Answer

4. Which beetle is the strongest insect on the planet?

a) Rhinoceros beetle

b) Bull-headed dung beetle

c) Hercules beetle

Answer

b) Bull-headed dung Beetle

This species of dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus) was found to be able to pull 1,141 times its own body weight - that's like an 11 stone person pulling six double-decker buses!

5. What insect was the first living creature to be sent into space?

a) Soldier ant

b) Cockroach

c) Fruit fly

Answer

6. What percentage of all the species in the world are insects?

a) 25%

b) 40%

c) 80%

Answer

7. How old (in millions of years) is the oldest insect fossil?

a) 180

b) 320

c) 400

Answer

8. Insects have structures known as simple eyes, in addition to the compound eyes they use to see. But what do they use these simple eyes for?

a) Detecting colours

b) Magnifying images

c) Detecting light

Answer

9. What is the loudest insect in the world?

a) Cicada

b) Cricket

c) Bee

Answer

10. What is the largest butterfly in the UK?

a) Purple emperor

b) Swallowtail

c) Peacock

Answer

How many did you get right?

Rhinoceros Beetle ©Philip Precey

1-3

You're a bug beginner

There are lots of amazing insects still to be discovered!

4-7

You're an amateur entomologist

You know your bugs from your beetles!

Buff-tailed BumbleBee © Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography

8-10

You're an insect expert

When it comes to insects, you're the bees knees!

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An insect quiz for nature enthusiasts - how well do you know your insects?

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Videos to watch -  how to make a hanging or low level bug house.  

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Videos to watch -  how to make a hanging or low level bug house.  

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https://supersimple.com/article/bug-hotel/

Chester Zoo – using cardboard tubes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OexxoXo9uFk

How to make lots of different homes for insects and invertebrates:
https://www.preloved.co.uk/blog/inspiration/inspiration-bug-hotel/

If you want something that looks more like a mansion:

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-bug-mansion

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/build-a-bug-hotel

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Please take a look at our group agreement, we want everyone to feel safe, supported and included.  We want everyone to achieve as much as possible by taking part.

To approve and to leave any suggestions please use the space below.  It is important that all course members submit their approval of the Group Agreement

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Nice and simple - quick and easy way to create a hanging bug hotel for your garden/outdoor space.

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Nice and simple - quick and easy way to create a hanging bug hotel for your garden/outdoor space.

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Useful Learner Information -  British Values, Protect yourself, Feeling and Staying Safe:

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Useful Learner Information -  British Values, Protect yourself, Feeling and Staying Safe:

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https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Community-learning-service/ProviderInfo/Safeguarding-and-Prevent-duty-overview.aspx

Using the internet safely and protectiing personal information:
https://www.deliveringforscotland.gov.uk/at-home/internet-safety/

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Beautiful Butterflies - explore this fab link to learn about all of the following:

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Beautiful Butterflies - explore this fab link to learn about all of the following:

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Butterflies found in UK gardens

Identification of common UK butterflies and key facts

How to attract butterflies to your garden

The Red admiral butterfly – ID and recording sightings

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Trees woods and wildlife

Brimstone

A common master of disguise, the brimstone blends perfectly into the alder leaves it lays its eggs on. Spot them in early spring when they emerge from hibernation.

Trees woods and wildlife

Comma

Tough, charming, rough around the edges. The comma is one of the few butterflies that is becoming more widespread, likely due to global warming.

Trees woods and wildlife

Gatekeeper

Named for its rigorous patrol of hedges and woodland rides, the gatekeeper butterfly is a prime pollinator. Look for them sipping nectar on sunny days in the summer.

Trees woods and wildlife

Green hairstreak

The only green butterfly in the UK, this small but spectacular species can be seen fluttering through woodland clearings during the spring months.

Trees woods and wildlife

Holly blue

A delicate holly-lover with some unsavoury tastes. Find the holly blue on its foodplant in woodland, or feeding on juices from rotting fruit or carrion.

Trees woods and wildlife

Orange-tip

Subtle, delicate and well-disguised – that is until the male flashes a splash of bright orange. Orange-tips are a butterfly of grassland and woodland edges.

Trees woods and wildlife

Peacock

Big. Bold. Beautiful. This stunning showstopper is instantly recognisable, with its captivating azure ‘eyes’ and orange-brown wings. Widespread and common throughout the UK, it is one of our most-loved butterflies.

Trees woods and wildlife

Purple emperor

Despite its exotic appearance, the purple emperor is as typical of UK woodland as the mighty oak. It’s elusive and beautiful, but has quite the unsavoury appetite.

Trees woods and wildlife

Purple hairstreak

Small yet stunning, the purple hairstreak is rarely seen as it spends much of its time fluttering high up in the tree canopy. Reliant on oak woodland, this little butterfly is never far from oak trees.

Trees woods and wildlife

Ringlet

With chocolate brown velvety wings and a delicate trim, the ringlet is an understated yet attractive butterfly. Look out for its trademark bobbing flight as it travels through woodland glades.

Trees woods and wildlife

Silver-washed fritillary

These flashy butterflies are strong fliers with a flair for the dramatic. Spot the silver-washed fritillary charging through the air along woodland rides in search of a mate, or the caterpillars munching on their favourite flowers: violets.

Trees woods and wildlife

Speckled wood

Understated yet headstrong, the speckled wood spends its time basking in sun-dappled woodland and fiercely patrolling its patch.

Trees woods and wildlife

White admiral

Found exclusively in woodland, the white admiral is a stunning butterfly with a delicate gliding flight. Unlike its sun-loving peers, this black and white beauty prefers shady spots to relax in.

Keep exploring

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Butterflies - British Animals - Woodland Trust

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Woodland butterflies are some of the most thrilling and colourful woodland animals. Get top facts and ID tips with pictures.

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Welcome to Cannock Chase - Cannock Chase

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Welcome to Cannock Chase National Landscape An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Cannock Chase is one of England’s finest landscapes, in the heart of Staffordshire and the jewel of the West Midlands. Well known and loved for its scenery, wildlife and rich history, it offers superb walking, cycling and horse-riding in a tranquil and peaceful […]

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Looking for something a little grander for your bugs?  Try this one ....

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Looking for something a little grander for your bugs?  Try this one ....

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This website is from Forestry England, and is linked to the walk that we will be doing this week. Take a look.

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Spending time amongst the trees really noticing nature is scientifically proven to boost our mental and physical health.  Follow the trail to take a mindful walk through the forest that invites you to truly relax.

What to expect on a wellbeing trail

Themed panels along the trail invite you to pause, notice and connect with the forest environment around you.

A forest wellbeing journal is also available to help you get even more benefit from the experience, offering additional mindful things to do while you're out in the forest and at home.

Get your copy on-site or download your forest wellbeing journal before you visit.

Start your wellbeing journey today and search the map below to find your nearest trail.

Our wellbeing trails are supported by Sport England and using National Lottery funding.

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Spending time amongst the trees really noticing nature is scientifically proven to boost our mental and physical health.  Follow the trail to take a mindful walk through the forest that invites you to truly relax. What to expect on a wellbeing trail Themed panels along the trail invite you to pause, notice and connect with the forest environment around you.

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A really useful link especially during the busy spring months

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A really useful link especially during the busy spring months

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Things to do, health, mental health & wellbeing, care homes & supported accomodations, information & advice, keeping safe, transport, help with caring for someone, money/benefits & housing, help at home.

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Cost of Living Support - Live better and love later life

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What support is available to you or a loved one during the cost of living crisis?

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Safeguarding information for learners from Staffordshire Community Learning / county council

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Safeguarding information for learners from Staffordshire Community Learning / county council

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Safeguarding and Prevent duty: overview - Staffordshire County Council

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Information, guidance and documents on Safeguarding and the Prevent Duty.

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Please take a look at the tutorials and links provided each week - they will help support your activities that you will be doing at home and remind you of everything that we have covered in our session too.

1. Recycled resources: Please can everyone keep a look out for any recycled resources they can use as part of this course - in particular garden containers and pots.

2. Foraging: Please can you collect some interesting items from your garden, local park, when you are on a walk, things you find that interest you so that we can use these to decorate your pots and your gardening journal.

3. Gardening Journal: These are in the post to you - when then arrive you may like to spend some time decorating the front cover ready for next week.

4. Photographs: Please share how you get on each week - post your photographs to the Your Space - work in progress pics, and photographs of your finished projects are all great.

Thank you and looking forward to seeing you each week.

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Feed butterflies and they will return to your garden

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Feed butterflies and they will return to your garden

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Help your wildlife move around more easily and go undetected from preditors by making this simple mammal tunnel 

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Help your wildlife move around more easily and go undetected from preditors by making this simple mammal tunnel 

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Volunteering can help improve your self-esteem and emotional health

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Volunteering can help improve your self-esteem and emotional health

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Take some time for you | Wellbeing trails

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Mental Wellbeing - Little Things can Make a Difference

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Mental Wellbeing - Little Things can Make a Difference

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If you are feeling stressed, anxious, low or can’t sleep, Every Mind Matters can help with expert advice, practical tips and personalised actions to help you.

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https://www.getsafeonline.org/

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From the Blog

Blog

Who are you really talking to online?

The internet is a fantastic innovation that has, in many ways, made life more convenient, given us more choice, brought enrichment and for many, made...

Our Partners & Supporters

Our Mission

Our Mission

Get Safe Online is the UK's leading source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety.

Our website is a unique resource providing practical advice on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobile devices and your business against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online. It contains guidance on many other related subjects too - including performing backups and how to avoid theft or loss of your computer, smartphone or tablet.
Read more about who we are

Get Safe Online around the world

Get Safe Online has a presence in 24 countries around the world. Each country benefits from its own Get Safe Online website, customised to deliver the best and most relevant experience for individuals and businesses. Many of the countries also have a community of Get Safe Online Ambassadors and Advocates working on our behalf.
Read more about our International Sites

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Get Safe Online | The UK's leading Online Safety Advice Resource

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The UK's leading online safety advice resource. Providing free, impartial internet safety advice to help keep you and your family safe online.

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Forraging can be great fun, providing hours of great adventure. Take time to record your journey so that you can enjoy it again, and again!

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Forraging can be great fun, providing hours of great adventure. Take time to record your journey so that you can enjoy it again, and again!

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We hope you enjoy personalising your own linen forraging bag, and making a start in your very own journal where you can capture your thoughts and ideas throughout the course. Great to look back on afterwards too! Why try some art journalling or story telling to help you on your way.

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Help your wildlife move around more easily and go undetected from preditors by making this simple mammal tunnel 

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Help your wildlife move around more easily and go undetected from preditors by making this simple mammal tunnel 

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Crafty activity sheet  - make your own pot sticks/decorative garden stakes.

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Crafty activity sheet  - make your own pot sticks/decorative garden stakes.

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Sometimes the finishing touches can make all the difference - so maybe have a think about this, or try decorating/painting your pot, one idea is to coat it in polyfilla and then stick shells, reflective beads, anything at all really into it - makes a great, individual and textured finish.  Don't forget to seal it with spray varnish or diluted pva glue to waterproof it.

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https://careers.staffordshire.gov.uk/jobs/latest

WeRecruit is the new Staffordshire County Council's career hub which will improve the recruitment experience for you! It is accessible on both mobile and desktop devices, and will include all candidate communications and show your application progress.  You can now easily: apply for jobs, manage your profile, find information to support your job search. It will also allow you to set up job alerts, so you can quickly access jobs matching your chosen criteria.

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This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience and to enable social media functionality. By clicking "Turn cookies on", you agree to such purposes. Read more about cookies.

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Jobs and careers with Staffordshire County Council

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This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience and to enable social media functionality. By clicking "Turn cookies on", you agree to such purposes. Read more about cookies.

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How can we help?

We know everybody's different, but choose the statement that best describes you or your situation and we'll suggest some relevant topics.

Still not sure where to start?

Don't worry. We're here to help guide you to the information you need. Use the links below and we'll point you in the right direction.

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A great series following Robson Green around the countryside, might inspire you to get outside and explore a few places :-)

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Robson shares ideas on how to make the most of the weekends by getting into the outdoors.

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This article explains how gardening can help with health and wellbeing. It also has some real life stories how it has changed peoples lives.

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Mental health and wellbeing – How gardening can help / RHS Gardening

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Gardening is being prescribed for people facing some of life’s toughest challenges – read real-life stories of people who have benefitted and the science behind it all

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Support with your English for speakers of other languages

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Support with your English for speakers of other languages

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English for speakers of other languages | Staffordshire Community Learning

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Staffordshire county council subsidises the costs for adult and community learning, making most courses either heavily discounted or available at no cost to you

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More online safety including advice for parents

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More online safety including advice for parents

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Welcome to the UK Safer Internet Centre, where you can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online.

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Session 1 - How to choose, and clean a pot for growing your herb or flower seeds

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Session 1 - How to choose, and clean a pot for growing your herb or flower seeds

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Please watch this video. It will guide you on the best pots to use in the garden, how to clean them and the importance of cleaning them.

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Container Gardening - Session 1 Practical 1

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Thank you for enrolling on your course, I really hope that you enjoy learning some new wellbeing, wildlife gardening skills. We hope that you will continue to develop and enjoy your new skills with your family once the course finishes.

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Info Leaflet Pathways to Nature, Wildlife and the Outdoors

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Session 1 - How to sow herb and flower seeds

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Session 1 - How to sow herb and flower seeds

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This week you will be sowing herb seeds into your cleaned containers at home. Please watch the video tutorial and contact me with any questions. Please take photos of your own project and share with us on Padlet in the Your Space Session 1 column.

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Container Gardening - Session 2 Practical 1

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Why not leave an inspirational message for others? Painted stones are a great way to do this.

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"Take the time to be kind. You can make all the difference in someone's life." - Lucy MacDonald

1. How can rocks spread kindness
2. What materials do you need to paint rocks?

3. How do you make a painted rock?
5. Where do you get the rocks? 6. What kind of paint do you use on rocks? 7. What do you use to seal painted rocks? 8. Where can I hide painted rocks? 9. Are you supposed to take a painted rock? 10. What is a rock garden? 11. What do you write on the rocks?
12. What are easy rock painting ideas?
Have you ever stumbled upon a colorful, hand-painted rock that has been painted in bright colors or has an uplifting message written on it? You may have just found a kindness rock! Rock painting or rock art is a trend that has picked up popularity in recent years. Whether you're an artist who is looking for a new art project or someone who wants to share a positive message with others, painting rocks might be for you.

How can rocks spread kindness?

This painted rock, sometimes called a kindness stone, is simply a rock that someone has decorated with an inspirational message. They can be any size or shape, as big or small as you like! The point of this stone painting is to sprinkle positivity around your community. Once you create one, the idea is to leave it somewhere for another person to find and enjoy. As we all know, sometimes a simple message of love and compassion can spark joy and brighten someone's entire day.

Before you get to painting, here are a few common questions that you may have.

What Materials Do You Need To Paint Rocks?

Here's the list of things you'll need:

Smooth rocks or stones

Acrylic paint

Sponge brushes

Acrylic paint pens

Sealer

How Do You Make a Painted Rock?

Learn how to paint rocks; it's easy!

1. Find or purchase your desired rock (think smooth and flat). Clean it with soap and water and allow it to dry in the sun. (Dirt can mess up your designs)

2. Once the rock is dry, paint the top with a base coat of acrylic paint-pick any color you like. Wait for it to dry.

3. When the base coat is dry, add a fun design, or write a positive note like, "Be the Change" on each one. You can find lots of painted rock ideas using the links at the bottom of this article or just search rock painting ideas on Google. Add small details using a fine or extra-fine tip acrylic paint pen or a small paintbrush.

4. Allow the design to dry completely (for best results, dry overnight), and then seal the rock to protect your design.

5. Spread love and joy by leaving the rock in a place for someone else to find.

If you make a mistake, paint over the whole rock and begin again! That's the beauty of working on such a small canvas. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to paint a rock. The point is to spread a little love and compassion and to have fun while doing it!

Quick Tip: If you don't have paint or don't have the time to do a base coat, feel free to write a positive message directly on the rock itself!

Where Do You Get The Rocks?

Well, you can get them just about anywhere! A hardware or craft store in your area most likely sells rocks of many shapes and sizes. Some local landscaping businesses may also offer them for sale, and this is especially good if you are looking for larger sizes. Avoid buying stones that have a waxy film as they will be harder to decorate.

Or, just go outside and find some. From picking up pebbles on the beach to stones in your local park, any rock can make an excellent painted rock. Choose the type of rock that you think will fit your designs best and don't take all the rocks out of one area. We want to be kind to our environment, too.
Best practice: make sure the paint you get is multi-surface and works outdoors.
What Kinds of Paint Do You Use for Rock Painting?

We recommend using acrylic paint for both the base coat and your design. For more intricate, hand-painted designs, we suggest that you use paint pens to draw on top of your base coat. With paint pens, you can be a bit more accurate when you are writing on or adding details.

How Do You Seal the Rocks?

Your creations need to be sealed to preserve the paint and the beautiful designs you worked so hard on. Mod Podge or a spray-on sealer will work just fine-just make sure it's a waterproof sealer. Our favorite sealant is Deco Art Multi-Purpose Seal. You can find this and other types of sealers at your local craft store.

Where Do You Hide a Painted Rock?

Once you've painted, it's time to hide the rocks for others to find! Now, use the term 'hide' loosely; you want someone to actually find the rock. Think of somewhere that gets a lot of foot traffic where someone may notice it. A local park, a bench in town, or outside of a community center are all excellent options.

You can also be more intentional about where you place the rock if you want to be sure that someone will find it. Leave one in the common area of your office building, place one by the bathroom sink at school, or on a teacher's desk. They don't even have to be hidden at all. You can keep them on your desk or dresser for inspiration. Give them as a gift, or hand a rock off to someone that you think could use words of encouragement.

Be considerate when looking for places to put the rocks. Don't leave them at a private residence or business where you don't have permission. National parks are also a no-go as most have a "leave no trace" policy. The purpose of creation is to be kind, so let's be respectful of our environment.

What Do You Do When You Find a Painted Rock?

You've found a painted rock. Now what? Do you take it? First, read it! Take the message to heart, and know that you matter and your happiness matters. Someone else went out of their way to paint that rock for you to find. How cool that you're the one who found it!

Then, if you want to, share the love. These rocks have gained popularity on social media, so share your photos for others to see. Check to see if there may be a local rock group in your area, and consider joining. The group can get together to paint and place them around town. Write the name of your group on the back of your rock so people can search for it when they find the rock.

Lastly, pay it forward! Once you've read and enjoyed the message, you can either hide the rock somewhere new for another person to find, or if it meant a lot to you, keep it. All we ask is that if you keep the rock for yourself, that you paint another rock for someone else to find. Think of what the message meant to you. Make sure you help somebody else get that unique feeling too.

What is a Painted Rock Garden?

People have found that placing a group of painted rocks together to form a garden can make a wonderful impact on a community. Pick a spot that has plenty of people coming and going. Think about parks, libraries, schools, and public grassy areas near stores and restaurants. Then, leave a group of rocks and a sign that explains the rock garden. The sign should tell people that they can take a rock, leave a rock, or simply read the kind messages, smile, and continue on with their day. These positive phrases are sure to make so many peoples' days. Check out examples of rock gardens.

Rock Painting Sayings and Quotes List

Not sure what to write or paint on your rock? Here are some ideas to get you started!

You matter

Have a nice day

Trust the process

You rock

Be kind

You are loved

Not all who wander are lost

Chase your dreams

Be the change

The world needs you

Here comes the sun

Kindness wins

You are not alone

Inspire Kindness

Be Happy

Don't give up

Have hope

Intention over attention

Inspire others

Today is a gift

Keep it kind

Spread kindness

You're beautiful

You can do it

Spring into action

Be a rainbow in someone else's day

Love yourself

Kindness matters

Easy Rock Painting Ideas
Rock Painting 101 50 Easy Rock Painting Ideas for Beginners Family Days Awesome and Easy Rock Painting Ideas
We recommend starting with more simple designs and try to work up to more advanced illustrations if you would like, but you can design the rock however you want! Designs do not have to be intricate. Paint simple things like smiley faces, hearts, flowers, and polka dots. Or just focus on your message and leave a little inspiration on the rock.

Need design inspiration? Here's some help:

Now that you know everything you need to know about painted rocks, you're ready to get started! You have the power to make someone's day with the kind messages you write. Start the trend of rock-painting in your community, and watch the ripple effect you create. Thank you for helping us inspire kindness.

The ROI of Kindness

Ever wonder if there's an ROI of Kindness? We say...yes! Learn helpful nuggets like the one below, plus how to create a Kindness Value Proposition (KVP) at your organization in this simple book by Inspire Kindness founder Mac Anderson and Brian Biro, The ROI of Kindness .

Fact: Turnover reduction/employee retention...The average annual turnover in the Quick Service Food Industry is 170%. The two companies that constantly focus on kindness as the "magic" ingredient more than any other in their cultures average 14% and 24% annual turnover. In other words, these two companies retain their employees 8 to 10 times more than their competitors.

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Rock Painting Complete Guide to Painted Rocks | Kindness Stones or Rocks | Inspire Kindness

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Everything You Need to Know About Rock Painting - Spread a Little Kindness

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This website takes you step by step through making a plan for your garden.

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Get set for spring by collecting ideas for your garden. You could follow our guide and make a collage or plot plan for plants and more.

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The Skills Toolkit from Department for Education  provides access to free, high-quality courses to help build up your skills in digital and numeracy. Find out more: gov.uk/theskillstoolkit #TheSkillsToolkit

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Beat the cold - some links you may find useful

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Beat the cold - some links you may find useful

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Beat the Cold provides energy advice and guidance to address fuel poverty (https://www.beatcold.org.uk/).

Support with Cost of Living Resources: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Community/Cost-of-living-support/Here-to-help.aspx

Hypothermia Advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypothermia/

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Manage your own mental wellbeing with new wellbeing hub

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Manage your own mental wellbeing with new wellbeing hub

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Please can I ask you to follow the link and complete the Google form - its a great opportunity to remind yourself and us why you are choosing to take part in the course, and what you would like to achieve from it.

We are all so very different and as tutors it helps to inform us so that we can build all learner needs and aspirations in as we progress through the course. If we can support you with any specific needs whilst you are on the couse please let us know too.  Best wishes. Carol

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Staying safe online - tips for older people | Age UK

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Online scams are becoming increasingly common. These include viruses which can damage your computer and online scams. Read our guide to staying safe online.

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The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has a wealth of knowledge available via this link. You should also find help on what jobs need to be done in the garden to help you get ready for spring.

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Gardening tips & advice for growing your own plants, fruit & veg / RHS Gardening

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Need some help and advice about your garden? Search the advice from RHS to find out everything from growing your own plants, fruit & veg to winter pruning.

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Here is the link to enrol for this course.  Please use the following information:

Course Code: CFPCARE04

Course Name:  Pathways to Nature, Wildlife and the Outdoors

Provider:  Chase Aqua Rural Enterprise CIC

Dates: 11th May - 1st June 2024

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Great app to go on your phone that helps identify flowers / plants in your garden! A great free tool and well worth getting!

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‎Instantly identify plants. Accurate, fast and content rich! In addition to description and plant care tips, enjoy beautiful plant pictures around the world. When you take a walk on sunny days, have you ever come across a beautiful flower that you would know more about? When you're at a vacation wit...

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Please use this section to record all your activities from this week. It is really easy to upload photos of your work. Just click on the '+' below where it says 'your space session 2' and follow the steps through. If you need any help please ask one of the tutors and we can show you what to do.

We can't wait to see all your work !

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Please use this section to record all your activities from this week. It is really easy to upload photos of your work. Just click on the '+' below where it says 'your space session 1' and follow the steps through. If you need any help please ask one of the tutors and we can show you what to do.

We can't wait to see all your work !