A GLASGOW nursery will be able to transform its outdoor play area thanks to a generous donation.

Cowcaddens Day Nursery was gifted £600 from Dobbies Garden Centre in Milngavie.

The makeover will give the children who attend the nursery a garden space where they can learn more about nature, be inspired, and have an opportunity to be hands-on with outdoor activities.

Amanda McPhee, lead practitioner of attainment at Cowcaddens, applied to Dobbies for help in creating a more stimulating environment for the children to learn and play in the outdoors.

She said: "Living in a city centre can mean that families don’t often get the chance to play outside. Playing outdoors gives children many opportunities to learn and develop by problem-solving, using their imagination and risk assessing through play.

"Being able to transform our nursery garden into a safe, green space will do wonders for our little ones and their families as they’ll be able to make the most of it too.”

Plans for the garden renovation include a fence which will block out the hustle and bustle of Glasgow city life and provide a secure, safe play area. To promote urban biodiversity the garden will attract wildlife through the supply of a birdbath, pots for a bug hotel, and a selection of plants specifically chosen to attract bees and other pollinating insects.

Equipment has also been provided so that the nursery can work towards creating a vegetable patch in the future, enabling the children to grow their own food.

Laura Jamieson, community champion at Dobbies Milngavie, said: “It’s Dobbies’ ambition to create green spaces in the areas our stores are located for the benefit of our local community. Transforming the Cowcaddens Day Nursery garden will do just that.

"Not only do urban gardens have a beneficial impact on the environment, this new play area is also so important for families based in the city centre who might not have a dedicated outdoor space for their little ones to get creative in.”