GOING to nursery has become even more of a big adventure for children at a centre in Barnard Castle.

Youngsters at Little Ladybirds Day Nursery, on Harmire Enterprise Park, are now enjoying dozens of new additions to their outdoor playing area, thanks to an £11,000 grant.

The grassed area has been transformed with big tyres, a bamboo forest and a willow shelter.

There are also new grassed and decked areas, a mini theatre and totem poles.

Children will also be able to learn about nature first hand thanks to bird and hedgehog boxes and an allotment for growing fruit and vegetables.

"The children absolutely love all the new things in the garden," said nursery manager Michelle Lister.

"They all have their favourite things. You can now see the children coming outside and being more focused on what they are doing.

"Before they would come outside and just run around but now they are doing something specific."

The nursery, which looks after 40 children aged from a few months to five years old, was awarded the £11,079 Capital Access Grant to help them meet new curriculum requirements.

It also received a grant of £14,617 to carry out improvements inside.

"We hope that the children can now practice what they learn in the classroom outside and we hope to use the garden as much as possible to help develop their skills," said Mrs Lister.

The nursery will hold an open day on Saturday from 10.30am until 2.30pm. Town Mayor John Yarker will officially open the garden at 11.30am and there will be a variety of stalls selling local produce in the new garden. For more details call 01833-690620.