A west Fife nursery is to open a forest kindergarten as part of a six-figure investment.
Lauriston Nursery is spending £400,000 on a major expansion at its site in Dunfermline. As well as adding more space it will also see a bespoke forest nursery formed on land across the road to provide more outdoor play and learning areas for youngsters.
Ten new jobs will also be created as the nursery looks to contribute to the Scottish Government’s aim of providing 1140 hours of childcare to eligible children per year by 2020.
The forest kindergarten concept evolved in the 1950s in Scandinavia and will help youngsters go back-to-basics in natural surroundings.
Studies have suggested that the benefits include increased self-discipline, better balance and agility, and improved physical co-ordination and manual dexterity.
Amber Brackley, nursery owner and director, said: “The high demand from busy working parents for our services often exceeds the availability we can offer – indeed it is not uncommon for our rooms to have waiting lists.
“This is disappointing for both parents who want to be part of our family and ourselves who would be delighted to welcome them.
“To reverse the trend, we are expanding our premises.”
Ms Brackley added that the nursery plans to securely fence off the area across the road, clean wooded areas of dead trees and hazards and create a natural area where children of all ages can learn and play outdoors.
“This started out as an initial dream and a ‘nice to have’, but now that we own the forest it is all of a sudden becoming reality,” she said.
“The current nursery children are already very much involved in risk assessing the area and creating activities with the forest.”
