Now the children have started their Easter holidays, it’s a great time to introduce them to the world of gardening.

If you like gardening, the chances are the seed was sown when you were a child.

I used to garden with my mother and just loved it. It’s something that’s in my genes.

The first thing I remember is planting some nasturtium seeds all the way down the side of the lawn and my mother said they would soon turn into pretty flowers.

I found it hard to believe, but I remember looking at them coming out and the pleasure of seeing those seeds turn into flowers in a matter of weeks. That was the spark.

Gardening with children has lots of things going for it. It’s a healthy, outdoor activity which may keep them away from slumping in front of their computer games and/or iPad and it’s something that you can plan and enjoy doing together.

I don’t think it’s necessary to have a massive garden or an allotment to enjoy gardening.

In fact, if you’re just starting out, it’s often better to stick to a small area.

And it doesn’t have to cost the earth.

If you grow fruit and veg you will find that you are saving money – just think how much the organic supermarket stuff costs, and imagine how much it will boost your green credentials – you will be helping in a very practical way, to save the Earth.

A good, tasty but easy vegetable to start with is runner beans. You don’t even need a garden – they will grow in a large pot.

Provided the seeds are watered well, and the emerging plants given support (canes held together with string will do) they’ll produce beans throughout the summer months.

Strawberries are another plant that will grow in a container.

Young plants are available in garden centres now, just pop them into the soil and you could be cropping your own harvest in time for Wimbledon.

In the business, we recently created a sensory garden for a school.

It didn’t take up much space and anyone can do the same with a small area of garden.

There are a huge variety of plants that lend themselves to sensory gardens.

Try scented geraniums which have beautiful, aromatic foliage making them fun to feel and smell.

Chocolate cosmos, with beautiful, maroon flowers giving off a chocolate/vanilla scent is usually a big hit with kids.

And don’t overlook herbs, many are easy to grow, smell great and are tasty too.

You can encourage wildlife by choosing the plants you grow with this in mind. For example, a buddleia will attract bees and butterflies in their hundreds, these insects will then pollinate your flowers, which will help you get a good crop of fruit and vegetables.

Apart from obviously growing things, gardens can be great places for children to explore.

There are the bugs, slugs and wiggly worms just waiting to be examined and poked about by little fingers … yes, I know, yuck!

For children watching the seeds they have sown, sometimes more in hope than expectation, push up through the soil and grow into beautiful flowers or vegetables is excitingly rewarding.

Encourage them, and you could be sowing the seeds of a future career.