Make pumpkins less scary and more carey for a variety of garden birds
As well as being delicious to eat at this time of year, pumpkins provide the basis for some simple crafts, too. In our October issue, we have a few fabulous ideas for things to do with pumpkins (other than carve them into scary faces). There are lots more ideas here on our website too. Pumpkin beer keg, anyone?
In the meantime, get started with this really easy-to-pull-off make.
You will need:
Small pumpkin or squash (we used a ‘Red Onion’ squash)
Knife, a spoon and a skewer
2 twigs, each about 12–15cm long
Twine, about 1.5m
Drawing pin
Bird seed
1 Halve the pumpkin horizontally and scoop out the seeds, leaving 2cm of flesh intact.
2 Using a skewer, make two holes, opposite each other and large enough to securely hold the twigs. Stick a twig into each hole.
3 Cut the twine in half. Holding the two pieces together, tie a knot in the centre. You should now have four lengths of twine, joined by a knot.
4 Turn the pumpkin upside down and secure the knot of your twine to the bottom of the pumpkin with a drawing pin. Turn up the right way and adjust the lengths of twine so that the pumpkin sits straight. Knot the four lengths together at the top.
5 Fill the pumpkin with seed and hang it outside for the birds to feast on.
Find the rest of the pumpkin craft ideas on p50 of our October issue.
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