New base for outdoor nursery at Tornagrain

Children at Torngrain’s outdoor nursery watched their new building take shape earlier this week.

Social enterprise and outdoor learning specialists Stramash set up a nursery in the woods at Tornagrain in the middle of August and now have 15 children aged three to five.

The new nursery building will act as a base with most of the nursery’s activities still taking place outdoors in the woods.  It will also allow Stramash Tornagrain to be the first outdoor nursery in the UK to take children from 0-5 years old from January 2019.

Outdoor nurseries are well established in Scandinavia with research showing that young children learn well and thrive in an outdoor setting.  Team leader Alastair Davidson explains:“Outdoor nurseries for very young children is new to the UK but in Scandinavian countries it’s quite common for babies to play and even sleep outside during their naps, getting the benefits of fresh air and nature from an early age.  With suitable bedding, equipment and supervision there’s no danger and many positives. Having this new building as a base will mean we can be well prepared for all weathers and the individual needs of each child, regardless of age.”

Nicole Petrie, Moray Estate’s Tornagrain development manager, said: “We’re delighted that the outdoor nursery in the woods is already such a success.  Tornagrain was designed to be a special place to live and being home to an innovative concept like outdoor childcare fits perfectly with that aim.”