Even the small meadow planted with long grass, where children can romp and hide from each other, can be monitored by an adult near the entrance.There is a nature trail, where the young visitors touch and smell herbs and scented flowers; boxes of twigs and cones for toddlers to play with; a bamboo forest trail; and a log for sitting and listening to stories. "We've found that kids want a space where they can run around and handle plants and climb, so that their parents feel more comfortable and don't have to keep saying: 'Don't touch! Don't touch!'"It's a way to acquaint the children with plants casually, so that they aren't intimidated by them They come mainly to play. It has been an immense success."A lot of people use it and we've seen a great increase in family visits," says Lori Duggan Gold, the garden's Director of Public Affairs. If you find this surprising, there are two salient facts about that teeming, vibrant city that you may not know: it boasts two splendid and well-patronised botanic gardens; and New Yorkers take pride in knowing how to show their children a good time.The smaller of the city's two gardens is Brooklyn Botanic. It has always been popular, but the number of children who can enjoy it is clearly restricted. In 1996 Brooklyn took an important step further by opening its Discovery Garden, designed to spark an interest in gardening and wildlife among children who may never before have been exposed to it.

As long ago as 1914 it opened its first children's plot, where an acre is set aside for supervised groups to grow flowers, vegetables and herbs. We've all seen unhappy families trudging through Kew and elsewhere: persevering parents feigning ecstasy over magnolias and rhododendrons, while their kids fidget and look around for signs of ice-cream. Children crave instant gratification - video games, pop music, action movies - so how on earth can you get them interested in the gentle pleasures of the garden? In particular, how can you grab the attention of inner- city youngsters, who may have no garden at home to call their own? Some imaginative ways of tackling the dilemma are being tested in New York. WHEN A child asks: "What are we doing today?" and you propose a trip to a botanic garden, you cannot expect a gleeful response.

"It digs into your back and it's too bulky to fit in a suitcase or sports locker. But the outside pocket is a good size and the air holes help your bathers to dry off." Martin Wright added: "The straps are a bit naff - there's no shaping, no non-slip coating, and there's just a little padding on the back of the sack. In fact, it's not a great improvement on the old Jansport rucksacks, which had a leather bottom."STOCKISTSLowe Alpine, 01539 740840; Patagonia Mail Order, 0171 458 6004; Timberland and Eastpak, 0800 317466; Thomas Burberry, 0171 734 4060; Jansport, 0181 877 9907; Maison de la Fausse Fourrure, 0171 629 9161; Deuter from Blacks Camping, 0191 417 0414.. "I don't like the rubber tyre," said Nick Allen, who echoed the others' complaint.

Otherwise forget dual purpose - a better strategy is to carry a nice, light rucksack inside your suitcase, then drop the case in left luggage at your destination."*THOMAS BURBERRY SPORT RUCKSACKpounds 55"Horrible!" said Melanie Rickey of Burberry's college-style rucksack in cherry red satin, with separate base compartment in black latex for, well, a very slim pair of flip-flops, say "No self-respecting British person would wear this. Leave it to the Italians and Japanese - they'll love it." Her prediction proved entirely true - the testers hated it. "The straps are not weight- carrying at all," complained Sujata Bristow, "and it sticks out on your back in an awkward way." "It's the colour of a naff pair of knickers," opined Martin Wright, "and only good value in comparison with Burberry's other rucksacks."**JANSPORT 35 LITRE SOLE SURVIVORpounds 45The panellists didn't take to the Jansport Sole Survivor, which has a patented, abrasion-resistant rubber bottom, presumably to stop the contents getting wet. But there are no double seams, just single seams, and no reinforced bottom.