Every Nursery Needs a Garden

‘If outdoor activities with young children have always baffled you, then this is the book for you. Practical in style and structure, it has an accessible approach which is based in the best early years practice and provides plenty of challenges and new ideas. It is a must have for your early years setting.’ - Kathryn Solly, Headteacher at Chelsea Open Air Nursery School and Children’s Centre, UK
A garden can be a magical place for young children and offers them rich and engaging learning experiences as they interact with a variety of plants and wildlife throughout the year. This book guides you through the process of creating a garden, however small, for young children. It looks at the impact a garden area can have on children’s overall development and the benefits of using natural materials as learning tools.

Full of practical advice on how to design, develop resource and use a garden area, this book brings together:



advice on planning a garden and how to get children, parents and the local community involved
ideas for settings with limited space
ideas for different spaces including a wildlife space, a woodland space, a digging area, sand and water spaces and a growing area
suggestions of plants, flowers and crops to grow with very young children
information about the wildlife children may discover
a calendar guide to activities and garden planning throughout the year
ways to encourage children to develop a sense of awareness of the importance of conservation and sustainability
guidance on health and safety
clear links with EYFS to show how a garden supports the areas of learning and development.


Written for all early years practitioners, this book is the definitive guide for those looking to further enhance their outdoor environment and fulfil the potential learning opportunities that a garden can provide.

Ann Watts is an Early Years Consultant with many years experience both as a nursery class teacher and head teacher. She is an accredited facilitator and trainer for Learning Through Landscapes and advises early years settings and schools in developing their outdoor areas.

Garden Calendar Introduction Chapter 1. Why do we need gardens? Chapter 2. How do we make a garden? Chapter 3. Garden spaces for children Chapter 4. What could we plant in our garden? Chapter 5. Growing flowers and bulbs with young children Chapter 6. Growing fruit and vegetables with young children Chapter 7. How do we use the garden? Chapter 8. What will we find in the garden? Chapter 9. How can the garden support the themes and commitments of EYFS? Chapter 10. How can the garden support the six areas of learning and development? Conclusion Bibliography