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Description

Grow a tree and help to reduce carbon emissions.

Courtesy of The Scout Association
https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/grow-your-own/

Resources

Plant pots
Seeds
Compost
Tables
Gardening gloves
Rulers
Pens or pencils
A4 paper
Soil


Take it further
Research into the best seeds to use and successfully growing a plant can form part of the Gardener Activity Badge.

Youth shaped guidance
A participant with extensive knowledge of gardening or the Gardener Activity Badge might be able to lead this project. Participants can also decide if they want to take on this project for a longer time, continuing to care for their trees, and which next steps to take.

Safety: Gardening and nature
Everyone must wash their hands after the activity has finished. Wear gloves if needed. Explain how to safely use equipment and set clear boundaries so everyone knows what’s allowed.

Safety: Outdoor activities
You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.

Instructions

Before you begin
- Source your plant pots or seed trays. Ideally reuse old ones, or use any container (such as a yoghurt pot) as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom and has been thoroughly washed out. Try to get one for each team.
- Decide which seeds will be the best. Consider how much sunshine and care you will be able to provide to the young trees. Apple trees are a good tree for beginners to grow from seed, and can survive outdoors (after germinating inside) in most climates around the UK.
- Prepare tables for everyone to work at while planting.


Plant your seeds
1. Everyone should split into small teams, with at least one plant pot or seed tray per team.
2. One person from each team should put on a pair of gardening gloves and put a mixture of half soil and half compost into their pot or tray, so that it is just over half full.
3. Put two seeds into each pot or tray.
4. Cover the seeds with a mixture of half soil and half compost that is 1cm deep.Give the seeds some water.
5. Each team should put their pot or tray in a place that gets some sunlight and is fairly warm, to help the seed grow.


Monitor your seedlings
1. Each team should take care of their plants over the next few weeks: watering them, moving them if they need more or less sun, and re-planting seedlings into individual pots if they are getting too big.
2. Each team should use a ruler to measure the height of their seedling over time and keep a note of how much it has grown.


Once the seedlings become saplings
1. Several weeks after planting, the seeds should begin to start growing little leaves. From there they will grow taller and stronger. Each team should keep them in pots until they look strong and any risk of frost has passed.
2. If any team thinks their sapling is outgrowing its pot, the should find a larger one or suitable ground outdoors to plant it in.
[Why not think about giving the saplings out to families or to the community so that they can have space to grow?]


Change the level of challenge
Depending on which type of seeds you decide to plant, this activity will be harder or easier.

Tags

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Badge Links

• Environmental Conservation - Project
• Scientist - Other