Old Macdonalds' creepy crawly farm ...

IT IS a pastime enjoyed by children across the land – hunting for creepy crawlies.

Youngsters at one East Yorkshire nursery had the helping hand of a university scientist to do just that.

Youngsters from Old Macdonalds Children's Nursery were working with Sarah West, a community scientist from the University of York.

The 13 lucky youngsters went out into the nursery's nature area armed with utensils to capture bugs of all descriptions.

Elaine Ablett, nursery manager, said: "They swept the trees with brushes and captured the bugs that fell out into dustpans.

"Then they put them into pots so they could see them a little clearer.

"They had a great time. They loved it."

Pupils managed to have a closer look at bugs including red spiders, worms and different types of flies.

"They even caught a centipede," said Mrs Ablett.

"They really did enjoy that.

"The pupils were also looking at the fence and digging in the grounds for things.

"Our nature area is a small wooded area in the grounds which has lots of trees.

"We also have in it a climbing frame and slide and a trampoline in the ground.

"I think their favourite part of it all was digging and brushing the tree."

Charles Wright, 3, said: "I liked catching bugs and putting them in my jar.

"I found worms."

Daisy Joy, 4, said: "I liked putting worms in the pot."

Mrs Ablett said nursery staff believed in getting children into the outdoors to experience nature, which was why they invited the scientist to help the children with their bug hunt.

She said: "A lot of children don't get the opportunity to experience outdoor play like children used to.

"We get children out into the fresh air and learning about nature and everything around them."

It is not the first time pupils at the nursery have experienced outdoor play with a difference.

Earlier this year they took part in International Mud Day.

The children, aged between two and five, had the chance to take part in a host of activities, all based around mud.

They had a mud kitchen, including pans and utensils, where they made mud pies, moulds to create different mud shapes and they also had the chance to do some mud painting.

Mud Day was started two years ago in the small village of Panchkhal in Nepal.

It targeted a small group of 58 orphaned children and aimed to get them more used to the environment around them.

Since then, the event has grown throughout the world with everyone invited to have their own version of Mud Day.

Following Mud Day, pupils also had the chance to see two-day-old calves.

Mrs Ablett said: "We think it is really important for them to be outside.

"We take them outside every morning and afternoon.

"We spend a lot of time learning outdoors – you can learn outdoors what you can learn indoors."

Even the chill of the winter air will not keep pupils in.

"As long as they have the correct clothing they go outside," said Mrs Ablett.

"Not a lot stops us."