The link began in 2004 when Julie Western, a worker at Norbulingka, visited Poppies to ask for help with the creche.
Poppies Nursery gave Ms Western some Nursery World magazines and books to take back to India. She then adapted the projects to aid the children's learning and make the playrooms more child-centred.
The Norbulingka Institute serves the growing Tibetan refugee community that has been living in exile in northern India since 1959. It offers employment and support to refugees and runs workshops to preserve the traditional arts of ancient Tibet. Norling creche cares for 63 children up to the age of six.
Communication between the two settings is now thriving. Poppies owner Elaine Harrison said, 'We receive parcels from India which we open with the children at circle time. We share all the photographs and creative work the children make and, in return, we send them parcels back.
'Children at Norling learn the Tibetan and English alphabets from age three and can read and write both languages when they start school. Their creative work tends to be very adult-led, so we sent over our ideas for child-initiated activities. The creche has e-mailed us to say children are now spending more time playing.'
This year Poppies Nursery plans a range of activities to raise money for a creche playground and buy toys and learning aids.
Ms Harrison said, 'This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about other cultures first-hand. Poppies staff have been invited over to the creche and we intend to welcome a Tibetan teacher over here.'