Meet Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery

Janet Packer and Lindsey Bielby are the founders of Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery, a unique outdoor learning nursery.

Janet previously worked in education and Lindsey has a background in environmental conservation. Both had ambitions of setting up an outdoor nursery, but it wasn’t until a mutual friend introduced them a few years later that they realised they were a perfect match to bring their combined vision to life.

To secure the funding needed to set up their first nursery, they secured £20,000 in Start Up Loans, split evenly between them, from GC Business Finance in 2018. This allowed the pair to purchase vital resources for the nursery, including land, children’s learning materials, upcycled furniture, outdoor toilets and staff equipment.

The nursery quickly became a success, showing families across the local community the value of outdoor learning. It offers a safe environment where children can play and learn in nature every day. This approach gives children the space to learn naturally, supporting vital skills such as problem solving, decision-making, self-esteem and resilience.

After two years of growth, the pair opened a second nursery in Sheffield, supported by a further £10,000 in Start Up Loans funding to help cover the costs of additional resources and land.