As Spring is finally in the air, blossom is on the trees and the sun is in the sky, why not set up a table outside and create your own spring bloom pictures?
Take a walk around the streets, parks, forests and gardens of Waltham Forest and you will see an explosion of pastel blooms that have taken over our trees, all recently bloomed and ready to be enjoyed by the patient bees and pollinators.
Explore the colours, shapes and patterns of the blossom together. Can you get close enough to smell or gently feel them? What happens when the wind shakes the trees? Can you catch the falling blossom in your hands? What does it remind you of?
My favourite thing to do in Spring is fill the house with fresh air and colour. This craft brightens up every space and only uses poster paint and recycled cardboard tubes. It’s so simple and effective, you’ll do it every spring.
Start by collecting toilet roll tubes and empty kitchen towel tubes. Use scissors to snip the ends of the tubes in different ways like this:



Simply dip the tubes into your chosen paint, using pastel pinks, blues and yellows really make your picture feel like Spring but you can use any colour you see on your travels. Muscari and crocus purple, primula red and pansy yellows look lovely too.
Keep adding flower heads to your page until you are happy. Then add green stalks with paint or a felt tip pen.
Now start collecting those tubes, head outside and get crafting!
Caroline Ede is an Early-Years Consultant with an abundance of experience working with young people. She is the owner of The Castle Stay & Play, and Cook Me A Story.