Gardening is a national pastime in the UK, so it’s not so surprising Nick Jr is looking to encourage the region’s preschoolers to cultivate their own green thumbs.

The first of 12 eps of the new two-minute live action interstitial Little Green Fingers is hitting Nick UK airwaves this Saturday with the aim of showing kids the wonders of the garden. Created by UK-based prodco Jam Creative, the inaugural short Bird Cake follows youngsters as they make a seed cake for birds that visit their garden. Additional interstitials will begin rolling out in April.

To support the project, the broadcaster has also developed a website with UK-based web company Mind Orchard. The website (www.nickjr.co.uk/greenfingers) includes a virtual garden that comes to life as the curser rolls over it. Little Green Finger clips will also be available.