Saturday 25 May 2013, 12 – 6pm
The first ever Dalston Children’s Festival is launching this Saturday with activities happening in places and spaces all over Dalston, including Gillett Square, Dalston CLR James Library and Dalston Square – and we’ve got a full day of free activities for children at the Garden, 12noon – 6pm.
Scarecrow Making:
12 noon – 2pm and 2.30 – 4.30pm:
Scarecrow making is back! Join artist maker Laura Halliwell sticking, sewing and stuffing new characters for the new seed-sowing season. We’re planning bees in ‘beehives’, ladybirds on jackets, elaborate hairstyles and crazy patchwork. Hipsters, gardeners, and even a cat are just some of the Dalston characters that will be guarding the vegetable patches at the Eastern Curve this Summer.
Pothole Gardening:
1pm – 3pm and 3.30 – 5.30pm:
Budding garden designers can work with artist Nicola Plant to design tiny ‘pothole gardens’, to be displayed for the duration of the ‘Dalston Flower Show’. Then on Saturday 1 June, Steve Wheen, the ‘Pothole Gardener’ will visit the Garden to award the ‘best in show’. Who needs the Chelsea Flower Show?!
Pothole gardening is most suitable for children aged 7-12
Hanging out the Flags:
12 noon – 5pm
Make your mark on the Dalston Children’s Festival! Taking your inspiration from the banners and flags of the ‘Hackney Peace Carnival Mural’, just outside the Garden, work with textile designers Emamoke Ukeleghe and Yemi Awosile to print your own bunting. The bunting will be used to decorate all of the places and spaces taking part in the ‘Dalston Children’s Festival’ this summer.
Making Flowers with V22 artists:
12 noon – 6pm
Our neighbours V22 will host ‘Making Flowers’ Here’s what they say: “This is a make and take workshop. Inspired by the ‘Dalston Flower Show’, learn to create and decorate flowers with colourful fabric and paper using a variety of simple techniques including folding, fringing and gathering.
Get Buzzy:
(Short sessions throughout the day)
As part of the Garden’s ‘Get Buzzy’ summer focus on bees and plants that are good for bees and other pollinating insects, you can get to taste delicious honey harvested here in Dalston, learn more about bees from the Garden’s very own bee keeper who keeps a hive nearby, then plant some lovely flowers to keep the bees happy all summer long.
All of the activities for children at the Garden on Saturday 25 May are free. The ‘Dalston Flower Show for Children’ programme is supported by the ‘Sunny Fund’ and ‘Hanging out the Flags’ is supported by Hackney Council.
Children under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult.
