After weeks of warm sunshine and dry days, it’s easy to forget just how wet, wild, and unpredictable Scottish weather usually is.

We’ve been making the most of this incredible spell of weather – sun hats and suncream and lots of outdoor adventures. But while the sun has been blazing, there’s been something quietly wonderful about being in the woods: cool, shaded, and calm. Even in heat like this, Gillies Hill Community Woodland offers a natural sense of balance. That’s part of the magic of the temperate woodland environment.

So while we’re still soaking up every drop of sunshine, we know the rain will return. And when it does, we want to be ready.

Last week we shared that we’ve secured planning permission for our woodland shelter—a big milestone on our journey to becoming a fully registered outdoor nursery. This week, we want to share more about what that shelter is for, and what it represents.

Because while the building might be small, the thinking behind it is anything but.

The purpose of this building is simple: to support children’s experiences outside.

It’s not an indoor base in the traditional nursery sense. It’s a shelter—somewhere children can dry off, warm up, reset, and then head right back into the woods to play.

We’ve always believed children learn best outdoors—but that doesn’t mean they should have to stay cold or wet to do it. The shelter gives them comfort, choice, and the chance to keep enjoying outdoor play in all weathers. It makes extended time outside not just possible, but sustainable.

It also gives us secure, weatherproof storage, and a flexible space for things like group time, nappy changes, or a quiet moment out of the wind. It’s there when it’s needed—not as a fallback, but as a support for everything that happens outdoors.

Behind this shelter is a bigger picture.

Over the past year, we’ve been thinking deeply about what children need to grow, learn, and thrive. You’ll hear more about that in the months ahead as we continue shaping and sharing our curriculum thinking. But the direction is already clear.

For us, it’s about more than what children do—it’s about how they feel, and who they’re becoming.

We believe:

Children need to feel safe and supported to take healthy risks. They need strong relationships to explore their world with confidence. They need to feel independent, to make choices and test their ideas. They learn most when they’re engaged—in real experiences, in real places. They thrive when they find joy and purpose in what they do. They benefit from a sense of belonging—knowing their contributions matter. And they grow best when they’re given time, space, and trust.

The shelter plays a quiet but important role in all of this. It helps us offer a consistent, child-led outdoor experience that’s grounded in both care and learning.

We’ve now submitted our building warrant application and are working closely with Cambusbarron Community Development Trust to finalise the lease. We’re also focused on securing the funding we need to bring this vision to life.

There’s still work to do—but we’re getting closer. Thank you to everyone who’s helped us get this far.

Next time, we’ll be exploring how environments like Gillies Hill Community Woodland do more than support play—they actively shape learning. Because when children are outdoors, the world becomes the teacher.