Auchlone Nature Kindergarten

Auchlone Nature Kindergarten Auchlone Nature Kindergarten is Scotland's first outdoor Nature Kindergarten.

Our enthusiastic implementation of Claire Warden's Nature Kindergarten philosophy has resulted in Auchlone being considered sector leading and recognised internationally. Auchlone Nature Kindergarten offers the best of all worlds to allow children the opportunity to build great childhood memories - a secure natural space inside, a gently challenging outdoor investigative zone which supports young

children to develop emotional confidence and skills, and then the wild wood where they can feel the freedom of a fully natural environment. The enthusiastic implementation of Claire Warden's Nature Kindergarten philosophy has resulted in Auchlone being considered sector leading and recognised internationally.

28/08/2026

Our wonderful teachers always getting stuck in!! Don’t know who is having more fun: ☀️🌳

A black mat group time, based on nursery rhythms. Nursery rhymes are so much more than songs — they provide children wit...
28/08/2026

A black mat group time, based on nursery rhythms. Nursery rhymes are so much more than songs — they provide children with endless opportunities to learn, explore and have fun. They learn new words, sounds, and phrases while building confidence in speaking. We listen and turn take, we build on our social and emotional development, maths skills, and memory and concentrate skills. The black mat encourages us to sit, listen, share our experiences, and always learn. Building these skills all ready for school. A lovely morning!! ☀️🌳🍂❤️

Spaces are filling up fast! Be quick! If you would like your little on to experience a week in the great outdoors. Email...
28/08/2026

Spaces are filling up fast! Be quick! If you would like your little on to experience a week in the great outdoors. Email [email protected].
We can’t wait to welcome you all to our amazing setting. ❤️🐝🌳☀️🍂

While out and about exploring we came across something exciting… a tractor! 🚜 We discussed how important tractors are, ...
25/08/2026

While out and about exploring we came across something exciting… a tractor! 🚜 We discussed how important tractors are, what they do, what was attached to the back, and how to stay safe around them.
We also discussed the changes of the field over the different seasons.
These exciting experiences spark curiosity, build vocabulary and encourage us all to ask questions, make connections and learn about the world around us.

A woodland walk is so much more than a walk! As we explore, our little learners are busy using all their senses — listen...
25/08/2026

A woodland walk is so much more than a walk! As we explore, our little learners are busy using all their senses — listening to birdsong and rustling leaves, feeling different textures, smelling the fresh woodland air and spotting the colours, shapes and creatures around us. 🍂🐦
Outdoor exploration supports curiosity, language development, concentration, physical coordination and an understanding of the natural world. Every muddy puddle, fallen leaf and woodland sound becomes an opportunity to wonder, investigate and learn. 🌱✨
Learning is everywhere when we take the time to stop, explore and use our senses. 💚

Expanding on our learning from measuring trees, the children’s voice, photos, and creative representation of understand...
25/08/2026

Expanding on our learning from measuring trees, the children’s voice, photos, and creative representation of understanding is transferred into our current Floorbook, centred on ‘Care.’ 🌳☀️🍂

Maths in nature: Today, armed with meter length tape measures, we set out to measure trees in and around our local envir...
19/08/2026

Maths in nature: Today, armed with meter length tape measures, we set out to measure trees in and around our local environment. We started with the oak trees we replanted at the start of summer and were pleased to note that they have all grown between 3-6cm. This prompted the children to measure the circumference of a larger tree, where they had to work together to hold onto the tape measures. Finally after a walk, we researched how to measure the height of a tree, and learnt to look through our legs until we could see the top and then we measured from that point to the base of the tree. This took a lot of co-ordination to keep moving the tape measure to reach the base, where we counted each meter until we got to a whopping 37m!

~ The Auchlone cafe! ☕️🌳❤️ This morning the children set up shop and ran their very own nature cafe. We experienced real...
19/08/2026

~ The Auchlone cafe! ☕️🌳❤️ This morning the children set up shop and ran their very own nature cafe. We experienced real life scenarios, as well as using lots of different life skills. On offer at our shop was mud pies, cupcakes, fruity tea, apple pie, and chocolate ice cream! Their imagination quickly transformed this space into a busy little cafe. The children explored role play, communication and social interaction as they took on different roles as shopkeepers and customers. They practised using language to describe their creations, deciding on prices, taking turns and negotiating with one another. Making mud pies also provided rich sensory and scientific learning. The children experimented with adding different amounts of water to the soil, noticing how the texture changed from dry earth to sticky, workable mud. They used their hands and simple tools to scoop, mix, shape and decorate their pies. There was lots of mathematical learning happening naturally through the play as the children counted their pies, compared sizes, talked about quantities and created their own ideas about money and prices.
Most importantly, the children showed wonderful creativity, cooperation and confidence. They used the natural environment as a resource for their play and demonstrated how open-ended outdoor experiences can inspire imaginative learning.
Learning through play, nature, imagination and friendship. 🌿🥧🪵

Our annual training week has been spent getting our site as well as our selves to the highest standard. We look forward ...
14/08/2026

Our annual training week has been spent getting our site as well as our selves to the highest standard. We look forward to welcoming you all back next week. 🧘‍♀️☀️🌳⛰️🔥

~ Little explorer on a big adventure. 🌳🔭 Our little explorers are discovering the wonders of the outdoors, building conf...
11/08/2026

~ Little explorer on a big adventure. 🌳🔭 Our little explorers are discovering the wonders of the outdoors, building confidence, developing new skills and learning about the world around them. At just two years old, children are naturally curious and eager to discover how things work. Sometimes the best classroom is the great outdoors.

Address

Auchlone Lodge
Crieff
PH7 3QZ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+44 (0) 1764 683656

Website

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