As we move into July and the weather hots up we also edge closer to the school summer holidays. As a child, the prospect of weeks and weeks of glorious sun seems exciting, but as a parent it can be somewhat daunting - how exactly do you keep the kids entertained? Well, worry no more - get them out in the garden and the great outdoors offers great opportunities. Here we’ve got some suggestions for ways to keep little fingers busy this summer - including tasks that’ll actually help you get ahead in the garden. Yes, really. You’ll be sippijng that G&T in your hammock before you know it…

Feed your feathered friends

Not only is making your own bird feeder a simple and inexpensive idea, it’s also great because it creates a long-term object of focus; kids will love bird spotting and discovering which species are frequenting their feeder.

All you need to make one is an empty yoghurt pot, some string and then some nuts, seeds and lard. Mix your ingredients together, then pierce a hole in the bottom of the yoghurt pot and loop the string through, tying a knot to secure it. Fill the pot with your mixture, then hang it outside (upside down like a bell) and watch the birds visit the garden to enjoy your handiwork!

Build a hedgehog home

Hedgehogs are in decline, so a great way to help them is to make them a home in your garden. Hedgehogs don’t like a tidy garden so if there was ever an excuse to forego the weeding, this is it!

Our prickly friends hibernate between October and March, so the summertime is the perfect time to get building them a house they can shelter in during the colder months. The Wildlife Trusts have some really helpful guides to show you how to make a home for your spiky pals, and you really don’t need very much at all.

Grow your own dinner

Another fun thing to do with children over the summer is help them to grow their own produce from seed. Whether it’s lettuce, green beans, cucumber or tomatoes, your little ones will love watching as their plants get bigger and eventually end up on their plates. This is a great way to teach them about where their food comes from, too.

If you fancy going one step further, you could get the kids involved in making their own labels for their fruit and veg. Just get some old lolly sticks (usually plentiful at this time of year!) and get them to paint them in their favourite colours, before writing the names of the different seeds on.

Make a splash

Watering the garden in the summer can become a tad laborious, but that’s where little hands can come in handy. Give kids the role of being chief garden waterers, and each day you’ll have a bit of assistance. If they’re a tad small for the hosepipe (or you’re not sure you can trust them not to cause a minor flood) then perhaps get them their own watering cans that they can use to complete their special task.

Prepare a patio pond

Another way to attract wildlife to your garden and keep the kids entertained in the process, is to create your own patio pond. Don’t worry - you don’t need to dig any holes for this. All you need is a container with no drainage holes, some pond-friendly plants, and an oxygenating plant (such as arrowhead or eelgrass) which will help to keep the water clear. Place all of your plants in the pot, then top up with water and watch to see which wildlife pays you a visit over the summer!

Keep your container in a fairly shady spot if you can, as this will help both the plants and the wildlife.

Delegate decorating

If you're hosting a barbecue or summer party, then a good way to keep little hands busy (and out of the bowls of crisps) is to get them on decoration duty. Perhaps they can pick flowers to make table arrangements, create garlands from leaves, or make place names by finding stones and writing guests’ names on them.

Create a nature challenge

Why not create a bit of a friendly competition or a challenge during the summer holidays? Make a list of things to find in the garden - it could be bugs, plants, flowers or even different shapes of clouds. Then, challenge your children to find all of the items on the list over the course of the summer holidays. You could extend to things outside of your garden too, so that they keep the challenge going even while they’re out and about - if you’re heading on holiday, add things they might be able to see in nature in your chosen destination, or if you’re staying at home but planning day trips you could incorporate things like seaside items or creatures.