Earth Day with Nettle and Dock (morning session)

Celebrate Earth Day and learn about nature with Author and Illustrator team Sacha and Thomas Webborn together with their picture book Nettle and Dock!

You'll hear a live reading of the book, a performance of the Nettle and Dock theme song, an introduction to plant identification, a craft activity, and the chance to ask questions and have a copy of the book signed.

There will be two sessions on Saturday 22nd April. This event page is for the morning session (11am - midday). You can book the afternoon session (1 - 2pm) here. Each child ticket admits one child into the event to take part in the activity, and these are limited in number. Please also book adult tickets for anyone attending with each child so that we know how many grownup sized chairs to put out. Thank you :)

Book summary:

Join age-old friends, Nettle and Dock, on their first adventure together! As the seasons change, Nettle and Dock explore their growing friendship! This magical picture book introduces young readers to the centuries-old folkloric relationship between two well-known and abundant British plants. Children and parents love playing along with Nettle and Dock, engaging with fun and colourful interactive scenes that they can recreate on their own outdoor adventures.

Nettle and Dock is a cheerful picture book for ages 0-7 and brings to life the wonder of exploration in nature, encouraging plant identification and inspiring children to engage with outdoor life. The vivid interactive pages give parents and children the opportunity to play together as they read, looking for shapes in the clouds and blowing away dandelion fluff together, an innovative take on storytelling in a calm and playful tale.

You can watch the book trailer here.

About the authors:

Thomas and Sacha are a husband-and-wife author and illustrator team who wrote Nettle and Dock while living on their smallholding in North Yorkshire. Sacha dreamed up the idea one December afternoon, at the start of that seasonal reprieve when nettles begin losing their sting and one's guard could be dropped during the dance between the hedges on the way to milk the goat and feed the chickens. Could she really be thinking she might miss them? Nettles were always welcome to stay as a host for local insects and butterflies, but she wasn't sure if she'd collected more berries or nettle stings that year! Thankfully, the younger of their two daughters would always rush up with a dock leaf to help – and it often did!

Now whether dock is a genuine remedy or all in the mind, the subject of great debate, what Sacha realized was there was a relationship to celebrate - a historical connection between the two leaves that felt truly timeless in its documented span of 600+ years. And from her imagination, that bond between nettle and dock became a magical friendship with a new adventure, and Sacha began the process of sketching their lives and writing their story. Thus, Nettle and Dock was born! This nature-inspired relationship was her husband, Thomas's, cup of tea. Having more than just green fingers, Thomas set to work, illustrating the brewing story with an artistic talent that ranges from rich, minimalist imagery to skilful scientific detail. Thomas illuminated the magic of Nettle and Dock's friendship, bringing delightfully vivid images to the pages that are now steeped in the fun and full colour of their wonderful outdoor world. With Thomas's experience as a Forest School Leader and Sacha's lifelong emphasis on literacy with her master's degree in English Education, the two are excited to share their love of nature in the most playful and engaging way - through words...and music! Thomas and Sacha also form the folk duo Webborn and have written a Nettle and Dock theme song that tells their tale in a musical story, adding to the canon of nettle and dock's legacy.

You can read more about Thomas and Sacha on their website.