
Create your own forest using recycled materials
June 23, 2021
This month, as part of our Earth Matters play topic, we have been thinking about our amazing planet and some of the ways we can help look after it. There are many fun and practical activities we can do with our children to help them become more eco-conscious: reading books, gardening, getting outdoors and spending time in nature, choosing to invest in better quality products (and toys) that last, getting children involved in recycling, and trying to reuse materials where possible.
A craft session is the perfect excuse to raid the recycling bins for materials that can be reused and made into something else. In this activity, Jess @learnandbloom shows us how to create fabulous 3-D cardboard trees for small-world play, using recycled cardboard packaging and loo roll tubes.
Don't forget to share your creations with us on Instagram and Facebook, tagging @oskarswoodenark and using the hashtag: #oskarslittleartists. We can't wait to see your cardboard forests!

Create and play with a magical cardboard forest made from recycled materials! You will need loo roll tubes for the trunks, and cardboard cut-outs for the tree shapes. Grab some crayons or paints and let your imagination run wild. A rainbow coloured tree? Why not! A Christmas tree strung with pretty lights and decorations? Go for it! Once you’ve created your trees, enjoying using them in your small world / imaginary play.
Materials:
- Cardboard tubes (loo roll inners)
- Recycled cardboard
- Kitpas crayons (or any crayons or paints)
- Scissors


Step 1:
Cut out trees in different shapes and sizes.
Step 2:
Cut 2 slits into the cardboard rolls to insert the tree shapes into.


Step 3:
Colour and decorate the tree shapes with crayons or paint. We used our Kitpas art crayons.
Step 4:
Attach the tree shapes to the cardboard rolls.


Step 5:
Use your cardboard forest for small world and imaginative play!