Donegal Town forest preschool with natural world ‘connection’ awarded planning

A proposed forest preschool located near Donegal Town has been granted planning permission by Donegal County Council.

The proposed preschool is situated adjacent to Rossylongan Forest, and according to the applicant, “designed in full accordance with Tusla and Early Years Services Standards, accommodating a sessional childcare service for up to 22 children and three staff members.” 

Kelly Reid, the listed applicant, had applied for the construction of a single-storey building to facilitate pre-school activities, including an outdoor play space, which has been granted conditional planning permission.

Furthermore, provision of a car parking area, a new effluent treatment system with percolation area, and all associated site works were included in the successful planning application. 

Donegal County Council granted planning permission for the application with 15 conditions, including a condition that the signage shall be in the Irish language only, or be first in area, size and prominence to other languages.

A further condition was that the applicant should pay a contribution of €497.51 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is already provided or is intended to be provided by the Authority.

The planned preschool, according to documents which supported the application, would “encompass both indoor and outdoor elements.”

A supporting letter read: “The building and open spaces located in the natural surroundings will play a leading role in the natural, open-based learning environment.

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“Successful forest preschool initiatives elsewhere have shown that increased interest often leads to additional funding for conservation efforts. Children’s interaction with the natural environment has been shown to improve not only their physical and mental health but also the health of the environment that they inhabit. 

“Activities like forest walks, wildlife observation, gardening and using the facility’s own outdoor play areas will be at the centre of the learning on offer to the children.

“The surrounding area of Rossylongan offers ample open space, forestry, and natural beauty, which are ideal for indoor/outdoor preschool. Children would benefit from a learning environment surrounded by nature, promoting physical activity, sensory exploration, and a connection to the natural world.

“Rossylongan provides a peaceful, low-traffic setting. This would create a safe environment for young children to play and learn without noise and distractions of a more urban area.

“Establishing a preschool in Rossylongan will provide jobs for local educators and staff, as well as stimulate nearby businesses. A well‐established nature‐based preschool in Rossylongan, will help Donegal stand out as a forward‐thinking community that values innovation, child‐centred education rooted in nature. It could serve as a model for other rural communities looking to enhance early childhood education”.

The letter concluded: “This preschool can encourage sustainable, eco‐friendly practices from an early age, making it a hub for green education. Rossylongan, Donegal Town, with its vast natural resources, is ideally suited to raising a generation of environmentally conscious individuals.”