Chestnuts Day Nursery in Barnwood has acquired the house adjacent to its main property on Barnwood Road. The former residential home is currently being refurbished to provide a purposely designed area for under 2 year olds, including its own ‘baby garden’. The existing Chestnuts property will then be able to offer additional spaces for 2, 3 and 4 year olds, which will enable the nursery to cope with the growing demand for the 30 free hours.

Chestnuts opened its first nursery in Longlevens 16 years ago and in 2007 they opened a similar under twos property next to the original nursery.

The Barnwood nursery opened in 2009 and last year a third nursery was opened in Quedgeley.

In December 2018, Chestnuts was awarded Business Development Award 2018 by Nursery Management Today. The team were presented the national award by Blue Peter’s Gethin Jones at a ceremony in London. This team is absolutely deserving of this award, said the judges. They balanced warmth, heart and business which shaped their considered growth plan. They placed children and family at the centre. The result is a secure, sustainable and assured expansion.

Nursery owners Lucy Knibbs and Liz Kelly are hoping that taking on the extra property at the Barnwood setting will enable them to meet the growing demand for nursery education, whilst retaining the caring and warm environment for which Chestnuts has always been known. The new property should be open in the spring and bookings are currently being taken.