Thelma Miller, head of an inner London nursery, is in no doubt of the value of the space they call their "outdoor classroom'.
'When you see children looking at bright red tulips, and you see the awe in their eyes, it is so inspiring. Somehow you see things through them - like how a rough brown bulb can grow into this incredible flower,' she says.
Her setting is among a growing number that recognise how vital outdoor play is for young children.
The UK is only gradually embracing a concept that has been long recognised elsewhere in Europe. Scandinavian countries in particular have daycare centres and primary schools that integrate indoor and outdoor sessions year-round, regardless of weather. But while British settings - and British parents - may applaud the tulip-admiring element, they are often unwilling to risk the muddier, rough-and-tumble aspects.
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