Storytime with Kate
The magic of Hill Close Gardens is a mixture of many things; the grass and the trees, the flowers and the bees, the hedgehogs and bugs, the gardeners and volunteers. In Spring 2020 we saw the gardens change and grow in a different way. With no visitors treading the paths it was sad to see that the gardens were missing an essential element. What we were missing was the visits from the many children and their families. Although peaceful and calm, the gardens need the joy and laughter of young people and their families. The gardens flourish, as we do, when we meet together and share the beauty of the natural world. We at Hill Close wondered how best to continue to share the magic of this most beautiful place during this time.
And so, Isabella came to share her story. The story of the soil and the seeds, the birds and trees, the sun, the clouds and the rain. Each week, Kate shared the story of Isabella at Hill Close Gardens, alongside other stories and a craft activity of things to make and do. Here you’ll find Kate and Isabella as they journey through story to the magic of Hill Close Gardens with you.
Kate is a local storyteller based in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can see and listen to her stories via her website www.katesstorytree.co.uk or social media channels @katesstorytree
This project was made possible through a grant from Heart of England Community Foundation and Coventry City of Culture Resilience Fund. With thanks to the hard work of Kate, Caroline and Chris and all the staff at Hill Close Gardens for bringing the project together. Thanks to Mog at Warwick Books and Justin of Blue Smarty for bringing it online.
Seasonal stories from the gardens
As we move into a new season, the gardens are full of the noises of Spring. Unfortunately it's not the sound of children's voices we…
Story 1 – This is the Soil
This week we explored the soil and how to plant our seeds. Isabella is helping us to make our own plant pots from cardboard rolls.…
Story 2 – These are the Seeds
All sorts of seeds The Tiny Seed Growing garden This week we have found some seeds to plant in the plant pots we made last…
Story 3 – This is the Rain
This week we are talking about the rain and our featured book is The First Book of Nature by Nicola Davis. Boots in the puddle…
Story 4 – These are the Clouds
Listen to our story from today with Kate by clicking on the photo below Cloudette and Isabella’s Garden Did you know … Clouds are white…
Story 5 – This is the Sun
This week on Story Time Isabella and Kate are talking about the sun and how we all need sunshine to help us grow – just…
Story 6 – These are the Shoots
Our seeds have started to grow warmed by the sun and watered by the rain. Isabella’s garden is filled with flowers to see and plants…
Story 7 – These are the Flowers
In Isabella's Garden this week we are looking at flowers. Click on the image below to hear Kate's StoryTree tell you about our latest adventure…
Story 8 – This is the Chick in Isabella’s Garden
Hurray, Hurray. Rosie the hen has laid as egg and at last her egg is hatching. But no, oh no! Where is little baby chick…
Story 9 – This is the Tree in Isabella’s Garden
This is the Tree in Isabella's Garden I planted, planted, planted. And at first nothing changed... but slowly, slowly shoots of green began to show…
Story 10 – These are the Leaves in Isabella’s Garden
The leaf is one of the most important parts of a plant. Leaves produce food for the plant through a process called photosynthesis. The leaves of different…
Story 11 – These are the Bugs in Isabella’s Garden
This week we join Isabella on her garden journey again. We will be hearing about the bugs that live there. We will be making a…