A new sensory garden has recently been opened at Stonar Nursery with a magical secret garden feel.
BBC star of ‘Flog It!’ and Stonar parent, Paul Martin cut the ribbon with the help of nursery children.
Pathways with varied textures and levels lead out from double doors towards special zones including a mosaic ‘mud kitchen’ and digging area, a bug hotel, a hill with a slide and a willow wigwam. As the spring progresses there are plans to further enhance the garden with the planting of multi-sensory plants and herbs.
This complements the play area at the rear of the nursery; a colourful environment with an array of play equipment which stimulates creative and imaginative play. There is an emphasis on outdoor learning at Stonar Nursery, and children have access to several different open-air facilities where play and learning take place on a daily basis.
Head of Early Years, Kathryn Willder explained, “All children benefit from exciting outdoor learning and play. At Stonar Nursery, we nurture an attitude of care and respect for the natural world.”
A highlight is the Forest School where children have the chance to explore in a woodland setting. Sessions with a Forest School practitioner are a regular feature of the school week and children learn about the natural world as well as using natural materials for educational activities.
At Stonar, children are encouraged to look after their environment and recently the nursery boys and girls helped by planting a new coppice, which will create a new, wild area extending the tree cover across from the Forest School.
