BUSHCRAFT and shelter building could make up part of the activities at a proposed outdoor children’s nursery.

Youngsters aged from three until they start school could soon be visiting the ground at Myreside, near West Barns and Dunbar.

The proposals, which have been lodged with East Lothian Council’s planning department, were submitted by Debbie Bligh, of Dunbar Private Nursery Ltd.

A supporting statement, included with the application, notes that the central location is “ideally situated” for the proposed use and is within “easy reach from all areas via the A1 and local footpath and cycle routes for drop-offs and collections”.

It is anticipated that 32 children could use the nursery, with up to 80 per cent of those likely to come from Dunbar and the remaining 20 per cent from the surrounding area.

READ MORE: Dunbar: Mum’s hopes for new nursery in Masonic Hall

The document reads: “Dunbar Private Nursery Ltd are working with Business Gateway and are in the final stages of inspection with the Care Inspectorate. We expect to have a full day care registration granted by January 6, 2025. 

“This works well for the new intake in January, at the school nursery in Dunbar. 

“Dunbar Private Nursery plan to work in partnership with East Lothian Council to provide funded hours for eligible three years old up to school age.

“We are also working closely with Business Energy Scotland and receiving advice on our off-grid options to generate lighting in the winter.

“We have an agreement from a local catering business in Dunbar who pride themselves in using locally grown produce and in turn, supporting local businesses. 

"Local nurseries and childminders currently have a two-year waiting list and are no longer taking new applications. 

“Dunbar health visitors are overstretched, seeing up to 300 families.

“With the ever-growing families of Dunbar, hundreds of new houses being developed, it seems the current childcare crisis is in desperate need for more childcare options.”

Activities will be based “exclusively outdoors” and consist of bushcraft, nature exploration, backwoods cooking and shelter building.

There would be no permanent building, with children sheltering within temporary structures which would be built and packed away daily.

The document notes: “The owners of Myreside fully support this application and share in our interest in bringing outdoor education to a younger age group.

“Their own children will be attending.

“The response to the potential of an outdoor nursery within the area has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 100 pre-applications from local families for spaces.

“Local councillors, MPs and MSPs are aware and support the extension of operations.”

The proposals come after previous plans fell through.

The support statement concludes: “Three years ago, we found the perfect building and received planning permission approved in January 2024; unfortunately, the owners decided to sell [the] building, bringing our plans to an end. 

“After exhausting all building possibilities, it was then we decided to move the nursery concept to an outdoor setting, sooner than planned.

“This concept is not new to the UK, although new to East Lothian and a first for Dunbar. 

“We have been looking for the perfect base for our outdoor nursery for over two years now.  

“In view of the above, it is considered that the proposals comprehensively adhere to all relevant planning considerations and would provide a quality development, in the correct location, that would provide much-needed professional childcare, for the working parents/guardians of the local community of Dunbar, which is currently in dangerously short supply.”