Celebrations And Holidays Archives

Barbecues, Celebrations And Holidays, Fire Pits, Gary, Outdoor Living, Recipe

Everything You Need For A Garden Barbeque

There is more to putting on a great barbeque than just a fancy grill and some burgers. A truly great garden party that even the host can enjoy is made in the preparation. Make the process a lot easier with these top tips.

Consider a theme

Organising your party around a theme is a surefire way to get your ideas flowing. It’ll make it more memorable for your guests whilst also making it much easier to plan. Some ideas could include:

Tropical holiday
Street party
Staycation

Decorate

Whether you have a theme or not, decorating the garden will help you set the atmosphere you want. When decorating consider the following:

Accessories – just like with your living room, it’s the small touches that make the biggest difference. Cushions, outdoor rugs and small decorative features will go a long way to completing the look and feel you want

Lighting – if your family and friends like to gather and natter for a long time then some well-chosen lighting will help give your evening a more relaxed atmosphere or help you keep celebrating for longer. There are plenty of options available.

Heating – in the summer, it’s easy to be in the garden for most of the evening, but if you want to use your social space year-round then you might need to invest in some outdoor heating for when the evenings get chilly. There are plenty of options for heating your garden from upright patio heaters to parasol or wall-mounted heaters. If you want to add some atmosphere, consider a fire pit or chiminea.

Seating

Do you have enough space for everyone? It’s not ideal to have people perched all over the place when you are trying to have a good time, it always ends up with dropped food and people scattered everywhere. If you entertain a lot then it might be worth getting yourself a full set, but if it’s less regular then a few stacking or folding chairs you can store in the shed are a great option.

Never Underestimate a Paddling Pool

They are much more useful than for just splashing about in. If put in a shaded area they become a great way for keeping all your drinks cool.

Do you have everything you need?

If you have your grill, coals or gas and some buns ready, then you might think you have all you need to get barbequing, not quite. Your household utensils might not be good enough for the job. Buying a set of dedicated BBQ tools is a good idea, as is making sure you have everything else, like bottle openers and plates/cups ready too.

Plan A Menu

You don’t want to run out of food halfway through your party and end up with half burgers in a bun. Before you start, write a list of exactly how much food you might need, and stick to it. If you plan long enough in advance you will have time to marinade all your meats and get your prep down as well as plan what you’re going to cook when. If you want some menu inspiration why not check out our blog post on how to cook the perfect barbeque menu

Don’t Forget Sides & Sauces

Avoid last-minute rushes by planning your sides beforehand and getting them on your shopping list. Stuck for ideas? Here’s our basic breakdown of the ideal garden party and barbeque

Alice, Celebrations And Holidays, Outdoor Living

Garden Games for the Bank Holiday

Bank holidays offer a great respite from the demands of work and school, and the long weekend allows the opportunity to visit family or take a trip somewhere. But if you’re stuck at home this year never fear, there are plenty of fun games you can play in the comfort of your own back garden. Here are some garden games for the bank holiday that you can play to make the most of the sunshine.

Hide & Seek

Hide and seek is a simple fun game that you can play in the garden on a sunny afternoon without having to purchase any additional equipment. Typically, one person closes their eyes and counts to a specified number, and other players must hide and the other person must then try and find them. There is also a variation called “Kick The Can” where unfound players can kick a can placed in the middle of the garden to free captured players.

Blind Man’s Bluff

Originating from Tudor and Victorian England, Blind Man’s Bluff is a fun variation of “tag”. One player wears a blindfold and must try and tag the other players. If another player is tagged, they then become “it” and must try and tag the others. Make sure to play this game in a clear area free of obstructions and hazards to ensure safety.

Giant Chess

Think chess is a game reserved for rainy days indoors? Think again. Our Giant Garden Chess Set can take the game to a whole new level. Playing chess offers some surprising benefits, including improving problem-solving skills, focus, and memory, and even helping to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The giant chess pieces add a fun, dynamic element to the game, and you can enjoy the benefits while making the most of the sunny weather.

Rounders

A playground favourite, rounders is a game that provides fun for all the family. This simple game requires a bat, ball, and four bases, and team members take it in turns to hit the ball then aim to run around the four posts and score a “rounder” before the opposing retrieves the ball and throws it back to the bowler. It is a fantastic form of aerobic exercise and interval training, and can also help develop hand-eye coordination. The Muddy Puddle Traditional Wooden Rounders Set has everything you need to play the game in a handy string bag.

Swingball

Swingball is a simple yet fun activity that can provide hours of entertainment on a sunny day. The game consists of a portable pole where a ball attached to a string swings around, and players must bat the ball to keep it swinging in their direction until it reaches their end of the swinging track on the top of the pole. The Mookie All Surface Lite Swingball Set can be used on all surfaces. Just be careful of the swinging ball!

Frisbee

An old-school classic, a frisbee can provide fun for all the family on summer days- including dogs! A highly versatile activity, you can play a simple throw and catch game, see who can throw the frisbee the furthest, play “piggy in the middle” or a whole host of team games. The Aerobie Pro Flying Ring by Smyth’s Toys is an aerodynamic design that was allegedly used to set the Guiness World Record for the farthest frisbee throw.

Parachute Games

A parachute can provide an afternoon of fun for all the family. People typically stand around the edges, holding onto the handles, but there are a whole host of games you can play, that can include ruffling the parachute, one person sitting in the middle, or creating a bubble of air that allows everyone to sit inside. These games encourage co-operative play while building upper body strength. The Newitts Play Parachute comes in various sizes and rainbow colours.

If you fancy a break from all the activity, check out our post on how to build an outdoor cinema in your garden.

What games are you playing in your garden this bank holiday? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Alice, Celebrations And Holidays, Easter

What To Do With The Kids At Home This Easter

With visits to relatives, fun farm days out, and cinema trips out of bounds, those of us with little ones are set for a tough time keeping them entertained this Easter. But never fear, there are plenty of fun and educational activities you can do within the comfort of your own home and back garden. With the right knowledge, you can avoid complaints of “I’m bored!” this holiday, instead using the free time to get back in touch with nature and try out some seriously cool activities. So check out our guide to what to do with the kids at home this Easter.

Easter Egg Hunt

What better way to celebrate Easter than with a classic Easter egg hunt. Hiding Easter eggs around your garden to find is a simple yet fun activity the whole family can enjoy. If you have limited garden space or simply fancy branching out, you can optimise your full living space and extend the hunt to your house too. For a twist on the classic tradition, you could also create a treasure hunt with clues leading to the next hiding place, with a pile of Easter eggs as the final prize.

Planting Flowers & Vegetables

April is a key month in the garden, and there are plenty of flowers and vegetables that can be sown. Make the most of the Easter break by getting the kids to help out with gardening. Growing plants is a highly rewarding activity, and it will give children the opportunity to appreciate where their food comes from. Flowers and vegetables you could grow this month include carrots, peas, broad beans, cauliflower, sweet corn, poppies, wildflowers, sunflowers, tomatoes, and pumpkins. Check out our collection of seeds and our guide to planting vegetables to get started!

Cooking

Cooking a meal or dessert together as a family is a great way of bonding, and equips your children with vital skills they will appreciate once they head off to university. So now the restaurants are closing, take the opportunity to create a delicious feast in the comfort of your own home. If you are not sure where to start, the BBC has a great collection of recipes for families and children. If the weather is sunny, you can also take the culinary activities outside. Our range of chimeneas make a great addition to your garden and function as a standard oven, and our pizza ovens allow you to get creative and create your own pizzas!

Read, Read, Read

Minimise screen time during the pandemic by getting your kids into fiction reading. Our modern society is so obsessed with our phones, iPads, and video games that reading is becoming a lost art. However, reading can improve concentration; teach children about the world around them; and develop their language skills, vocabulary, and imagination, so it is a great hobby to get your kids into. Not to mention it can be huge fun. So make sure to stock up on books during the isolation period and get your children reading again. Here’s the BookTrust’s list of the 100 best books for children to get started.

Easter Crafts

If you’re not sure what to do with the kids at home this Easter, arts and crafts are a fun and educational way to engage children in the comfort of your own home. The possibilities are limitless: you can draw and paint, knit scarves and jumpers, create cards, make leaf rubbings, create a collage, or get stuck into papier-mache. One Little Project has some fantastic Easter craft ideas.

Puppet Show

The theatres may be closing, but you can still make your own entertainment at home. Allow your kids to get creative and create a show all of their own. They can try adapting a popular story into play form, or get creative and start from scratch with their own storyline. There is a great selection of puppets and puppet theatres on Amazon, however you could also use existing toys and dolls, or get creative and craft your own: Crafts by Amanda has a great compilation of ideas. Once they’re all prepared and rehearsed, make an evening of it by dimming the lights and bringing out the popcorn for a performance in front of the family. Who needs the theatre anyway?

Family Magazine

Take a twist on the traditional Christmas round-robin and use your time off to create an Easter family magazine. There are tonnes of things you could include: from interviews with family members; to recipes and craft ideas; to creative writing; to fun puzzles, quizzes, and jokes. You could even get creative and include photography, drawings, and artwork. Make it into a project and assign roles such as editor and photographer. Once it is complete, print it out and send to relatives and family friends to spread joy this Easter.

What are you doing with the kids at home this Easter? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Celebrations And Holidays, Mothers' Day, Scott

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is an opportunity to say thank you. And who deserves more thanks than mum? In order to really make mothers day special this year read below to discover some of our best gifting ideas.

Help your kids celebrate their mum

It’s easy to help your kids celebrate their mother with a day she’ll treasure. Whether its a nice of cup of tea when she wakes up or a full breakfast in bed, mothers day morning is perfect for making a memorable start to mums special day. Don’t be the one who makes a quick stop at the petrol station for flowers, instead, brighten up her morning with some unique plants and flower options. Orchids are a beautiful gift that can last for weeks at a time, whilst houseplants offer a different take on the standard bouquet. Help your kids to make a special card to go alongside it and mum will have a morning she won’t forget.

Beautiful gifts for the very best of mums

Say thank you with something beautiful this mother’s day. A special gift for the garden is the perfect way to mark mothers day and a chance to enjoy your outdoor space together. Perhaps some lighting can help you continue those summer evenings that you never want to end? Or some bird nest boxes can help you both to enjoy your love of nature. Some blankets and cushions can make time spent relaxing on the garden sofa even cosier and our bare root trees let you give gifts that keep on growing.

Remembering all the good times

Though not mum is still with us, what better day to think back on good times than mothers day. Your garden can be the perfect spot to reflect and remember and smile with a simple garden bench providing the ideal spot. Maybe add some of mum’s favourite flowers planted nearby? Or mix in the sound of running water to help relax and reminisce. Cultivate a spot you can always return to and you can celebrate the day forever.

Discover the perfect gift for celebrating your mum this year with our dedicated range, available here.

Scott Roberts is a copywriter currently making content for the Primrose site and blog. When at his desk he’s thinking of new ways to describe a garden bench. Away from his desk he’s either looking at photos of dogs or worrying about the environment. He does nothing else, just those two things.

See all of Scott’s posts.