What do you need?

There are three essential ingredients for a fantastic mud creation:

• a lot of mud
• interesting things from nature to mix in, like twigs, leaves, feathers and seeds
• a big mixing stick or spoon

Cook-up a classic mud pie:

There’s no wrong way to make a mud pie. Simply mix mud and water together with a stick or spoon and serve it to a willing family member. For fancy occasions, you could decorate your mud pie. Why not add twigs for candles and pretend it’s a birthday cake? You can’t actually eat your mud pie, but you can have lots of fun pretending.

Create a modern masterpiece:

Why not find a natural canvas…such as the bark of a tree or a log and create some wild art? Can you use your mud as paint and create a work of art? You could also create a mini muddy sculpture of an animal you can see in nature. You can use feathers, sticks and stones to help you decorate and shape it. Twigs make great legs and hedgehog spikes too. Or why not just enjoy squishing your hands and feet in the mud? Did it feel how you expected? What happens when it dries? While you’re covered in wet mud, you could make a handprint or footprint picture of something from nature. Use a smooth surface, like paper, a wall or a path. Can your family members guess what it is?   

Build a creepy crawly hotel:

Lots of insects and mini beasts also like mud. You could try creating a bug hotel out of mud and natural materials and make a home for wildlife. Just make sure you keep your eyes peeled for any wiggly worms that might get squashed as you work.

Spread some seed bombs:

Why not bring some flower power to your garden by creating seed bombs with mud? Make a pocket from damp mud, then pop some wildflower seeds inside. Mould the muddy mixture into a ball in your hands and leave it out to dry in the sun. You could scrape some patterns into your ball with a stick or use little stones to create a picture. When your seed bombs have dried, it’s time to place or catapult them wherever you choose. Keep an eye on where they land, and then check back in a few weeks to see if your flowers have grown. It’s always best to ask your family adult before you fire your seed bombs around… you don’t want to meddle with your family’s perfect rose garden.