Pod Planets
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'Pod Planets' - terrarium workshop for kids
Step into the world of miniature ecosystems in this hands-on terrarium workshop designed for curious young minds. Together, we’ll explore how nature builds thriving environments from under the ground up! And then recreate that magic in a bowl to take home.
But your terrarium is not just about plants – we’ll design it as a home for isopods, replicating their natural environment to create a healthy ecosystem.
What are isopods?
Isopods are part of the crustacean family, characterised by seven pairs of legs, two pairs of antennae, a hard exoskeleton, and breathing through gills.
Familiar to us as woodlice, isopods are nature’s bioactive custodians – part of the ‘cleanup crew’. They eat poop, rotting plant and animal matter, and help prevent the build up of mould.
As such, they represent ‘level zero’ of exotic pet keeping. If you can create and maintain a healthy environment, then you have a solid foundation to build habitats in which larger species can thrive.
We’ve selected some very cute Giant Orange Isopods (Porcellio laevis “Giant Orange”) for our terrarium build which are excellent for beginners.
Workshop structure
We’ll start by learning about the hidden layers beneath our feet and how each one plays a vital role in supporting life. From the drainage layer and mineral base to nutrient-rich soils, leaf litter, and the plant layers of understory and canopy, children will discover how ecosystems are carefully structured and interconnected.
Through simple diagrams and interactive explanations, we’ll connect these ideas to real-world environments – understanding how the same natural principles shape forests and landscapes across the globe. Then we’ll shrink that knowledge down, replicating an entire biome in a bowl!
We’ll head to the woods to forage for natural materials, learning what belongs in each layer and why. Equipped with buckets, participants will gather what they need while developing an understanding of ecological balance and responsibility.
Back at base, it’s time to build. Each child will construct their own terrarium step by step:
- Creating the foundational layers
- Adding plants to form a living landscape
- Introducing isopods as “bioactive custodians”
Along the way, we’ll explore nutrient cycles, lifecycles, and the tiny organisms that keep ecosystems healthy and self-sustaining.
By the end of the session, each participant will take home their own living terrarium—a miniature ‘pod planet’ that continues to grow and evolve. (We’ll also cover an important rule: what we create stays contained—nothing gets released into the wild.)
Session details
- Location: Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire HP27
- Date: Early June 2026 (to be confirmed)
- Duration: 4 hours (1000 – 1400)
- Cost: To be confirmed but expected to be around £60-£80 depending on cost of materials.
- Participants: 12 maximum
Book your place
We’re currently finalising the details for our first workshop. If you like the sound of what we’re putting together, please register interest and you’ll be the first to hear when the date is confirmed.
There’s no commitment at this stage – we’ll use this information to contact you as new dates are added.
Your session lead - Bilal
There aren’t many people who can inspire and enthuse about woodlice – but Bilal is one of them! His passion and enthusiasm is infectious and he’s in his element assembling interesting lichens and mosses into a thriving bioscape.
He’s currently studying veterinary medicine. When he told us he was trying to avoid farm animals (and sheep in particular), we thought he was the perfect choice to help us with our lambing. And given his subsequent attachment to Forrest the Sheep, we reckon we’ve changed his mind!
But it’s not just isopods. Bilal is mad about bugs and other exotic animals, has owned over a hundred different species, and continues to curate his own diverse menagerie. His current ‘family’ includes tarantulas, scorpions, and four types of poison dart frogs
Bilal lived in Oman for four years where he kept a lizard, a tortoise and three cats. He also managed to keep a family of ducks in his bathroom for a whole month before being discovered.
He spent two years working with reptiles and other exotics such as Burmese Pythons, Giant Tortoises, African Giant millipedes and an Asian Water Monitor.
Jamiroquai, his pet sugar glider (that’s a ‘flying squirrel’ to you and me) lived in his hoodie for around two years and went everywhere with him, attending lectures, shopping in the supermarket, going to the bathroom, you name it…
Gallery
Location
We’re located in Speen, Buckinghamshire – about 10 minutes drive from High Wycombe.
Nestled in the heart of the Chiltern Hills, our smallholding has a mix of grazing, growing spaces and woodland that provide opportunity to step away from the bustle of daily life.
Register interest
Please register interest and we’ll let you know as sessions are confirmed.
There’s no commitment at this stage – we’ll use this information to contact you as new dates are added.