Eco Holidays: Urban Grow

The Coal Loader invites curious young minds to get their hands dirty while learning about gardening, habitats and sustainability from the ground up.

Looking to keep your kids entertained during the holidays?

Bring them to the Coal Loader for free, fun and educational workshops with Urban Grow. There are two sessions this spring holidays:

Tuesday 30 September – Gardening with seeds and seedlings (5–10 years)

We kick things off by making biodegradable pots from recycled paper rolls and newspaper – no plastic here! Then the kids create their own seed-raising mix, blending bug-filled worm castings, compost, and potting mix to nourish their soon-to-be seedlings.

With a wide selection of edible and flowering seeds to choose from, each child plants their favourites before finishing the session with messy, joy-filled seed balls – ready to toss into gardens at home and watch bloom.

Wednesday 8 October – Habitat and mini beasts (5–10 years)

Through curious investigation, we discover what makes a habitat, meet fascinating bugs up close, and even step into their shoes – or many little legs – through fun role-play. Children will head out on a “bug safari” through living compost, spotting worms, grubs, slaters, ants, and more.

Then it’s time to get creative, building unique hotels for their favourite creatures using sticks, bark, flowers, and other natural materials. Whether it’s a butterfly landing pad or a lizard’s water slide, anything goes! The session ends with each child crafting their own seed balls, filled with habitat-building flowers and herbs to plant at home.

Tickets will be available from Tuesday 9 September via Humanitix.