For Cambridge Day Nursery, the opportunity to extend its boundary and rent more outdoor space from its landlord was simply too good to be missed.
Based in the centre of Cambridge, the nursery has been working hard to develop its outdoor practice over the past four years, since manager Rachel Watson took over, and prides itself on providing free-flow for all its age groups.
Operating from a large house with the pre-school based upstairs, Ms Watson reports that the local market for the nursery's services is growing, with business parks on its doorstep and new houses being built in the centre of Cambridge. It recently increased its registration from 51 to 62 children and is currently full with a waiting list. 
Exciting new possibilities for learning are offered by the garden, which now measures 12 by 30 metres. 'We officially took over the new area in August and we have left it wild so that the children have the opportunity to explore,' she says. 'We wanted the area to remain as natural as possible because this creates so much to talk to the children about, and we want to enhance their love of nature.'
One of the advantages of the new land is that nothing needs doing to it. 'We've gained a large grass area with a wonderful large willow tree,' Ms Watson says.
'Altogether there are four trees, which create a forest area for us, with deep bushes and undergrowth. It provides great opportunities for den building.
'We have also moved and extended our mud kitchen. We find that our boys are very engaged with this and like to dive in straightaway.'
Being based upstairs is not a barrier to the pre-school children accessing the outdoors whenever they want to. They have the appropriate clothing, which they put on themselves, and use walkie talkies to stay in touch with staff. The walkie talkie system has recently been improved, with all nursery rooms now on the same frequency.
'The extension of the garden is proving hugely beneficial for our business,' says Ms Watson. 'We have found that parents who were intending to send their children to the local state pre-school have changed their mind and are keeping them on at our nursery because they love the garden so much.
'It is also empowering the staff to develop their outdoor practice and they are all spending more time outdoors, whatever the weather.'
Ms Watson reports that renting the additional land is cost effective.
'We've got it at a very reasonable rate and we already have a gardener coming in at weekends, so that will continue, and there isn't really a great deal of maintenance required for the new area.'
