Page 25 - ALG Issue 2 2017

Gardening with Children
Making decorative eye guards for garden canes
Garden canes and sticks are the cause of a signi cant number
of garden injuries, especially to eyes but this can be prevented
by enclosing the end of the cane. Garden centres sell a range of products from practical green plastic plugs to terracotta birds but your creative offspring could make you a supply with a few bits and pieces that will brighten up your plot and help to protect your eyesight.
Clay eye guard
• Polymer air-dry clay • Paints
• Varnish
Roll the clay into golf ball sized pieces and position on the end of the canes, model the clay into simple bird, animal or geometric shapes and decorate with textures – kitchen utensils make interesting patterns.
Remember to make the hole slightly larger as it will shrink when it dries. Paint and varnish once dry; ordinary air-drying clay will not be waterproof but may last a season if varnished with marine sealant. You may need to use a dab of superglue to keep the guard in place.
Buzzy bee eye guard
• Pack of table tennis balls/sharp knives • Paints
• Varnish
• Plastic bottles/recycled materials
• Waterproof glue
Table tennis balls lend themselves to the creation of a swarm of bees/butter ies or other insects protecting your cane tops and can be bought online very cheaply. Cut a cross in a ball that will enable the ball to sit tightly on the cane; you will have to help small children with this task.
Paint the ball in the colours of your favourite insect, cut out wings from the plastic bottle and attach with glue. How about some antennae made from twigs or a long curly tongue made with garden wire for the butter ies?
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