Children will be counting their chickens as they hatch as part of a nursery's egg incubation project.

Pre-school pupils from Boys & Girls Nursery, along The Broadway, Stanmore, are filled with excitement about the scheme, in which the nursery is working with Aldenham Country Park, in Elstree.

The incubators contain seven eggs and are set up in each pre-school room for the children to observe for three weeks.

Natasha Kirby, director at Boys & Girls Nursery, said: “We are taking part in the project to expose the children to new experiences – it is an exciting chance for our pre-school children to learn about lifecycles and take responsibility for animals in their care.

“The children can’t wait for the chicks to start hatching.

“We have some great activities prepared to help explain what will happen throughout the project – I think the team are just as excited as the children.”

The education team from Aldenham Country Park visit the nursery three times throughout the project to explain what will happen to the eggs, how the chicks grow inside the eggs and how the incubator helps the process.

They also bring specialist equipment and activity ideas, including bring along a duck and an adult chicken in their first visit.