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'It's perfect' First Glasgow nursery in a park officially opens

'It's perfect' First Glasgow nursery in a park officially opens <i>(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)</i>
'It's perfect' First Glasgow nursery in a park officially opens (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Glasgow's first nursery built in a park has officially opened.

The Winter Gardens Nursery, located in the middle of Tollcross Park, held its opening ceremony today.

With the special theme of love, children, parents and staff all contributed to the show with singing, dancing and a heartfelt video.

Formerly Parkhead Community Nursery, the institution takes full advantage of its location next to the Winter Garden, with an emphasis on outdoor learning.

Glasgow Times:
Glasgow Times:
Glasgow Times: Christina Cannon, Douglas Hutchison and Nikki Black with the plaque
Glasgow Times: Christina Cannon, Douglas Hutchison and Nikki Black with the plaque

Christina Cannon, Douglas Hutchison and Nikki Black with the plaque (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

READ MORE: Inside Glasgow's first ever nursery to be built in city park

The new state-of-the-art building, which has been in use for four months, also received a plaque, unveiled by Christina Cannon, city convener for Education, Communities and Equalities.

She said: "This opening is particularly exciting because it is our first nursery in a Glasgow park and I think we could just tell today how much that means to the staff, children and parents.

"I know, from speaking to Nikki, the headteacher, the amount of work that has gone into building a real community feeling, as they moved from Parkhead after so many years."

Nikki Black, head of nursery added: "Today pulls us all together into that celebration of the Winter Gardens Nursery.

"We have been open for a few months but just to see the community pulling together to celebrate the uniqueness of the nursery is really special.

"As we were Parkhead Community Nursery for such a long time, we were worried is it going to be the same, are going to transition well and we cannot believe how well it went.

"Keeping our core values at the heart of everything we do just stands as a good practice and we keep that ethos throughout."

Glasgow Times: Jamie-Leigh Daw with 2-year-old Demi Crawford
Glasgow Times: Jamie-Leigh Daw with 2-year-old Demi Crawford

Jamie-Leigh Daw with 2-year-old Demi Crawford (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Glasgow Times:
Glasgow Times:

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Jamie-Leigh Daw, child development officer, attended Parkhead Community Nursery as a kid, years ago.

She said: "Starting there when I was three years old, I felt supported, nurtured, inspired by the staff that took care of me there.

"They made me feel inspired enough to move on to have this as my own career and now, I work together with some of the staff that actually taught me as a child.

"It's an amazing experience.

"The importance of today is that we are all here together, as a family, opening this nursery."

Douglas Hutchison, executive director of Education Services said: "It has been a fabulous event, the location is just incredible, I think you would struggle to find a better location for a nursery.

"Even walking through the park to get here, the fact that children have got this open space in such a beautiful park means they are touching history and nature.

"It's perfect."

Glasgow Times: The nursery next to the Winter Gardens
Glasgow Times: The nursery next to the Winter Gardens

The nursery next to the Winter Gardens (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)