A YORK nursery kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrations with a visit by some farm animals, writes Nick Duquemin.

Straylands Day Nursery, in Malton Road, marks two decades in business this year – and staff are planning a special party to celebrate.

Co-owners Tracy Gowlett and Jayne Benn will host a barbecue for former staff, parents and children in July.

Tracy, who has worked with the nursery from the day it opened in January 1992, says more than 1,500 children have passed through Straylands’ doors in the 20 years they have been open. She said: “We’ve stayed small because it works so well. It means we can build up good relationships with the parents. People come back with siblings, and we’ve had children coming to us recently whose parents also came to us.

“I remember some of them when they were three years old, and now they’re coming in with their own children”.

About 20 children from the nursery, aged from ten months to five years, got to meet baby animals from Purple Pig Mobile Farm, Pocklington - who set up a temporary farmyard in the nursery’s garden.

Tracy said: “The children helped to feed the lambs and calves, and hold the rabbits and chickens. They absolutely loved it.”