A NURSERY where children spend most of their time roaming the woods is to open in Tockholes.

Beyond the Walls, run by Diane Calvert and Naomi Suggett, is the first outdoor children’s nursery in the north of England, and is based on long-established philosophies of the Scandinavian and German Forest Kindergartens.

The children, aged between three and five-years-old, will spend 80 per cent of their day in ‘day camp’, learning activities such as climbing trees.

“We believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”, said Diane, who was given the idea for the nursery 10 years ago while on a childcare course.

“We’ll be out come rain or shine, showing children that there’s more to life than man-made toys.”

The group will meet at Tockholes Village Hall each weekday morning, then the three staff will venture into Roddlesworth Woods.

Diane, 43, said: “Both Naomi and myself were both brought up in the countryside and love nature.

“We chose the woods in Tockholes because it’s local to us, it’s beautiful and varied. There’s an ambundance of different things to see all year round, and we’ve been very lucky that United Utilities who own the land have given us permission to do this.”

Diane and Naomi have 45 years of childcare experience between them and insist that the idea is not a “whim”.

Diane said: “The children will be supervised at all times, though they might not always realise they are being watched.

“They will also be stopped from climbing more than four foot up a tree, and there will be shelters built if the weather gets very bad.

“We follow all health and safety guidelines, but there will be trips and falls - all children do that.

“If a parent is particularly worried about safety, then it’s probably not suitable for their children, but it’s a great opportunity for others to flourish.”

Places at Beyond the Walls cost £35 per day for each child.

An open day for the nursery is being held on Saturday, August 20 from 10am to 4pm in Roddlesworth Woods.

For further information, visit www.beyondthewalls.co.uk