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Only natural

Get down to earth in another of our series on exploring the four elements in your setting's outdoor area, by <B> Jan White </B> , development officer at Learning Through Landscapes

Do you remember making rose petal perfume, plant stew or mud pies as a child? Or damming streams with sticks, stones and 'clay'? Such activities seem to encapsulate my childhood and bring back many happy memories.

My own daughter spent the whole of her fourth summer making 'concoctions' from soil, gravel, plants and whatever she could find in the kitchen - flour, sugar, chocolate powder.

She experimented enthusiastically over several months with substances, textures, consistency, smell and visual effects, like a scientist absorbed in experiments. I watched with interest and supported her explorations, but I didn't getting involved in collecting and mixing the materials - though I did deal with the fermenting results!

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