In this vlog I’m sharing our little lockdown garden makeover — and when I say “makeover”, I really mean turning what was basically a complete mud pile into a space Oscar can actually use. After nearly two months of lockdown with nurseries shut, I just got to the point where I thought: we need to sort the garden. I wanted Oscar to be able to come outside and play quite independently for a good stretch of time, so we focused on simple, toddler-friendly, open-ended ideas rather than lots of “garden toys”. We used a mix of DIY, second-hand finds and a few purchases. I’ll show you our crate-and-plank pathway (made from second-hand crates and spare decking we cut into planks and sanded), the mud kitchen moved into a little pallet hut, and our homemade “waterfall” made from recycling bottles that collects rainwater into a wheelbarrow. I also share what’s in our outdoor storage locker, why I chose a two-wheeled wheelbarrow for stability in an Irish muddy garden, and how we use a sand and water tray with water beads for scooping, pouring and sensory play. Next on my mind is how to make the space work when the triplets are out there too — I’m even considering astro turf to make it more usable.