The Seashell Garden - Nature Play for Families 🌱

Aim

To grow The Seashell Garden and bring affordable nature play to more families across South Tyneside and Sunderland. 🌱

Every child deserves to dig in soil, watch something grow and discover the wonder of the natural world. 🌱

The Seashell Garden is a nature-based outdoor activity business bringing calm, child-led sessions to families across South Tyneside and Sunderland. Founded in 2026, we deliver weekly sessions at NECA Community Garden in South Shields and Hylton Castle in Sunderland.

Our sessions are hands-on, unhurried and child-led. From planting seeds and building bug hotels to making nature potions and weaving with natural materials, every session connects little ones with the natural world in a meaningful and magical way.

But The Seashell Garden is about more than activities. It is about community. The early years of parenthood can feel incredibly isolating and our sessions give parents and carers somewhere warm to go, something meaningful to do and someone to talk to.

Where we are now

We launched in April 2026 and within weeks our first session sold out in less than 24 hours. Hylton Castle has been fully booked every single session since launch. Families keep coming back because what we offer goes beyond an activity, it is a community they belong to.

We now run two established venues and are in conversation with National Trust venues for 2027. We are expanding into nurseries, schools and care homes, bringing nature-based learning to even more children and families across the North East.

What families say

"Ashleigh is such a lovely host with so much to do in each session. You have created such a lovely group and community and we are so excited to be part of it!"
Google review, South Shields family

"My little girl struggles with eating and being at the allotment every week, learning how food grows has helped hugely in her eating new vegetables! She has now tried potatoes, tomatoes and pea pods!"
Google review, South Shields family

"Such a lovely nature based toddler group with a relaxed atmosphere. My son absolutely loves having the freedom to explore at his own pace and follow his own interests. A wonderful space for little ones to learn, play and enjoy the outdoors."
Google review, South Shields family

Who is behind The Seashell Garden

I am Ashleigh, founder of The Seashell Garden. I am a Level 3 qualified Teaching Assistant, Enhanced DBS checked, Paediatric First Aid certified and currently completing my Level 2 Nature Practitioner qualification. Every session is EYFS aligned and fully resourced.

I started TSG alongside a part time job and raising a toddler because I believed this mattered. I still do.

What your support will fund

Every penny raised goes directly back into growing The Seashell Garden so we can reach more families, deliver even better sessions and build something truly special for our community.

Your support will help fund professional photography to show the world what The Seashell Garden really looks like, session equipment to properly resource both venues, professional development through a Level 2 Nature Practitioner course and marketing materials to help us reach more families who need us.

We also hope that with your support we can begin to offer funded spaces for families who may struggle to afford sessions - because we believe every child deserves access to nature play regardless of their family's financial situation

Why it matters

Children are spending less time outdoors than ever before. Screen time is up, nature connection is down and the consequences for children's mental health, physical development and wellbeing are real and growing.

The Seashell Garden exists to change that, one session at a time. Affordable from just £8, rooted in community and completely child-led. South Tyneside and Sunderland families deserve access to nature-based play and we are here to make sure they have it. That is why we built it. That is why we need your help to grow it.

Thank you for believing in what we are building. 🌱

Grow. Explore. Wonder.
Ashleigh

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 24th September 2026 at 10:21pm