ONE of last year’s Winchester Business Excellence Awards winners is striving to create outdoor play space in an effort to encourage children to exercise.

Woodhams Farm Day Nursery, based in Kings Worthy, has started fundraising to develop their grounds into a fun and active place for its 84 children to get them as active as possible.

The 22-strong team was awarded The Breeze’s Service Excellence award after being nominated by some of their parents last year.

It wasn’t until 2013 that she applied for the small business of the year award seeing them shortlisted in the final four.

The following year Ms Mould said she only became aware of their entry the second-time around when she’d been told by organisers.

“We were delighted,” she said. “We couldn’t believe we won and it was a real special one to win. It was so nice to have and so out of the blue. I never think of us as a business. Awards are lovely but it’s not why we do it. I think I’m a bit of a child at heart!”

Since then they have continued to do all they can to ensure their children, some of whom are weeks old, are safe and nurtured and taught through fun.

The company was set up by Mary Mould in September 2007 after she was tired of battling the city’s one-way system just to take her own children to nursery.

While already working as a sales manager, Ms Mould took over the converted barn and gardens to create a place for all children aged nought to four.

They’ve just opened an after-school club for local primary school children – many of whom are related to their nursery children, helping late-working parents.

“It’s proving to be really successful,” Ms Mould added.

But she hopes to be able to provide more outdoor space for children, which will include a climbing wall, made from hand-painted colourful tyres, and is in the process of unveiling a donation page on the company website.