A NEW children's nursery that will provide 40 places for children of Royal Marines and the community is set to open shortly.

A group of 25 members of Norton Manor Camp-based 40 Commando spent Tuesday morning helping plant 3,000 daffodil bulbs around the grounds of Brambles Nursery ahead of its opening on March 1.

The purpose-built facility, in a remodelled and refurbished building at Wyevale Garden Centre, in Norton Fitzwarren, will offer working families in the area an additional 30 hours of free childcare a week.

Somerset County Gazette:

Local charity Go Commando, set up to support Royal Marine families after 14 men from 40 Commando were killed on a tour of Afghanistan, has led the project to deliver and run the nursery.

It has been backed by early years capital investment funds from the Government secured by Somerset County Council.

Now that the building is complete, the landscaping is taking place, with the help of the Royal Marines whose families may benefit from the nursery.

Kevin de Val, chairman of Go Commando and a former Royal Marine Lieutenant Colonel, said: "We are delighted that the Royal Marines of 40 Commando are able to assist us with the landscaping of the new Brambles Nursery.

"We are very excited to be opening this excellent, new and much-needed nursery in Norton Fitzwarren.

"We look forward to welcoming children from Royal Marines’ families as well as local families and offering them a fantastic learning experience as they develop and grow.

"The trustees of Go Commando are committed to supporting the children and families of serving and retired Marines and this fantastic nursery will enable us to continue and extend this valuable work.

He added: "We would like to thank the team at Wyevale Garden Centre who have worked with us to make this project happen and who have generously donated the 3,000 daffodil bulbs that were planted by the Royal Marines."