Catkin & co.

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Catkin & co.

For wide eyes and wild hearts. We are and passionate about nature and the outdoors!

19/09/2026

Going bonkers for conkers? You probably need a Conker Clamp.

If you’re thinking “very cute... but what on earth does it do?” - the little toadstool actually unscrews so you can clamp a conker (or acorn) safely in place, then use the three little gimlets to drill holes.

And honestly, drilling all the way through a conker is far more satisfying than it has any right to be.

Thread them into necklaces and caterpillars, add sticks to make weird and wonderful conker creatures... or just leave the clamp sitting on a shelf looking lovely.

🌰 Conker Clamp Set - £13
🍂 Full Autumn Set - £18, including the clamp PLUS 20 Autumn Fruits, Seeds & Nuts ID cards packed with facts.

Natural wood or fly agaric toadstool... which are you choosing? 🍄

Find them in the Catkin & Co online shop. Autumn, I’m ready for you!

15/09/2026

Protect yourself with a bear.
Cough and cold season is creeping in...time for elderberry gummy bears!

I make elderberry syrup at this time of year anyway, so turning some of it into little gummies is ridiculously easy. Just make your syrup, add gelatine (or agar agar for a veggie version), pour into bear moulds and leave to set.

Elderberries have traditionally been used during cold and flu season – but, more importantly according to the Catkin Kids, everything is better when it’s bear-shaped. Almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Elderberry features in my Foraging Cards, available in the Catkin & Co online shop.

10/09/2026

Sorry, not sorry...

I’d happily have summer carry on for a little longer, but apparently autumn has other ideas.

So... time to embrace it!

My FREE Signs of Autumn Spotter Sheet is ready to download. Print it out or pop it on your phone, head outside and see how many signs of the changing season you can find.

Conkers, berries, changing leaves and all the good autumn stuff incoming...

Head to the Catkin & Co online store to download your FREE sheet today.
Catkin and.co/shop

30/08/2026

Elderberry & Blackberry Brownies.

Foraging fun plus chocolate = yum.

20/08/2026

‘This is mad’
Ida’s reaction to her GCSE results.
Assumed she’d got the wrong slip of paper.
Better than she expected.
My eyes went straight to history as an ex history teacher - proud mum spied the 9.

Well done to all kids for getting through school. You are amazing.

16/08/2026

Lavender & Blueberry

A nice afternoon with Ted as we experimented making jams and syrups. We even made a lavender & blueberry crumple bake. Just the right hing of floral and not ‘too soapy’.

When I was his age I associated lavender with old people, bags in drawers and guide sales (selling fragrant bags for drawers). But I love the fact lavender is Ted’s favourite smell and years of dragging the kids to France and seeing lavender fields has paid off - lavender is reclaimed as ‘hip’ to teen!

My edible flower foraging card ID pack is great for those interested in floral flavours. See the online store.

06/08/2026

know it's only a leaf... until suddenly you know it's an oak. Or a silver birch. Or a horse chestnut. Then you can't stop looking up.

These Tree Leaf ID Cards are one of my favourite ways to help children notice the trees around them. Pop them in the cotton bag, head out for a wander, and see how many leaves you can match.

Fair warning: once you start identifying trees, every walk becomes a game of, "Ooh... what's that one?"

The set includes 22 common British trees and is available in the Catkin & Co online shop. (And if your family loves a game of Snap or Memory, there's a double pack available too!)

02/08/2026

Let's talk poo...

Because if you're out exploring the woods, chances are you'll spot animal poo long before you spot the animal!

My Woodland Animal Poo Kit helps little explorers become nature detectives, matching poo to the creatures that left it behind. Strange? Maybe. Brilliant fun? Absolutely. You can even recreate your own versions of various animal poo - and who wouldn't want that?

It's one of those activities that has children scanning the woodland floor with far more enthusiasm than you'd ever expect.

If your family enjoys a bit of wonderfully wild (and slightly disgusting) nature spotting, you'll find the kit in the Catkin & Co online shop. Happy poo hunting!

31/07/2026

How many signs of summer can you spot?

Check out the FREE Signs of Summer Spotter Sheet to make your next walk a little more adventurous. Download it, print it out, or save it to your phone and see how many you can tick off as you wander.

It's amazing how much more you notice when you're actually looking... and yes, it may become a little competitive.

Head to the link in my bio to grab your free download, and if you use it, I'd love to see your finds- tag !

29/07/2026

Little Foragers Flashcards
Tiny hands, big adventures!

These colourful Foraging Flashcards are made especially for little explorers aged 2-8 years. With 17 sturdy cards on a handy keyring, children can flip through as they search for berries, fruits and nuts on family walks.

The ring keeps all the cards together (so hopefully none disappear into the undergrowth!), making them easy to carry in a pocket or backpack.

Perfect for turning an ordinary walk into a nature treasure hunt, encouraging children to slow down, look closely and discover the amazing things growing around them.

Looking for something with more detail? I also have a range of Foraging ID Cards for older children and adults, covering Fruits, Edible Flowers, and Wild Herbs & Weeds, with identification tips and extra information on the reverse.

Address

York
York

Website

http://www.catkinand.co/

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