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Collect the last of the autumn’s lovely leaves to make some fun leafy animal pictures. You can collect your leaves while on a walk and make the pictures when you get home.
A bag to collect leaves in
Take a collecting bag to put your leaves in.
As you are out on a walk round your garden, park or in the countryside, think of an animal and then the colour of leaves you might need to make the animal. Keep an extra look out for twigs or seeds that might be added to your picture and remember to collect some small leaves to use for eyes, beaks or claws.
You can find a quiet place and make your animal on the ground when you are on your walk or take the leaves you have collected home to press and make pictures with.
Remember to only collect leaves that have fallen to the floor and wash your hands after you have been collecting.
When you get home, press your leaves to make them easier to use. You can then use your leaves to stick with card or paper to make lovely pictures, cards, writing paper or bookmarks.
Dry the leaves you have collected by patting them with kitchen towel.
Open out the sheet of newspaper and spread the leaves out on the paper - make sure that they don’t touch each other.
Place another sheet of newspaper on the leaves and put a heavy book on top.
Leave them for about a week - then you're ready to use your leaves to make things with!
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.