A unique Fife nursery is to feature on the silver screen this month.
The Secret Garden outdoor nursery near Letham will be in the spotlight at the famous Sundance Film Festival in America.
Into The Middle of Nowhere, featuring the North East Fife nursery and its children, has been made by Edinburgh College of Art graduate Anna Frances Ewart, who was born in Germany and raised by German/Irish parents.
The documentary, which looks at the way children explore and perceive reality through their play and imagination in the outdoor nursery in the woods, will be shown as part of the short film programme at the festival, which runs from January 19 to 29 and is a showcase for new work from American and international independent film makers.
Sundance director of programming Trevor Groth said Anna’s film was chosen from more than 8,000 submissions.
”Within them we saw a wave of truly original and outrageously distinctive films united by their uncompromised spirit,” he said.
Cathy Bache, founder and lead practitioner at the Secret Garden, said she was ”absolutely thrilled” by the news the nursery would feature at Sundance, the largest independent cinema festival in America.
”Anna’s film really captures the magical essence of the nursery, and we very much hope her exceptional film makes its mark in America this month.”
Cathy has recently returned from the States herself after taking part in a Winston Churchill travelling fellowship.
She spent time exploring the role of the adult in creating stimulating, creative and resilient learning environments for children.
She took part in programmes that support adult and child relationships in nature, both with the Colorado Animas Valley Institute and the Wilderness Awareness School in Seattle.
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery is a not-for-profit community-led project that offers a full-time outdoor pre-school care service and education in the Howe of Fife for children aged from three to five.
Its vision is to provide a spacious play environment in woods and countryside offering children an opportunity to develop curiosity and learning through engagement with nature, the seasons and the elements.
Cathy, who founded the nursery several years ago, said: ”We enter 2012 in a very strong position with waiting lists for several days of the week. But we are always very keen to welcome new parents and children from across Fife to discover our unique pre-school childcare, not least of all as several of our current ‘secret gardeners’ will progress to their local primary schools next summer.
”We already have parents approaching us for pre-registration and plan an open day in March to allow all those who are interested to come and meet with parents and staff.”
It is not only a recruitment drive for new children from next summer that is on the nursery’s agenda. It is also recruiting a senior practitioner to work with Cathy and her team in the woods.
”The position is no ordinary role and demands a very special person with knowledge and understanding of mindfulness, nature connections and compassionate communication,” Cathy said. ”More and more traditional indoor nurseries are taking steps to introduce outdoor activities to their curriculum.”
Find out more at www.secretgardenoutdoor-nursery.co.uk