Storal is pleased to announce the acquisition of Willow Tree Nursery, a well-established day nursery based in Walthamstow, east London, which has been serving local families since 2017.
The acquisition brings Storal’s portfolio to 55 nurseries across England, offering nearly 6,000 places. Over the past 18 months, the group’s priority has been the successful integration of Children 1st Day Nurseries, acquired in October 2024, alongside a strong focus on organic growth across its existing settings. That deliberate period of consolidation has strengthened performance across the estate and ensured each nursery is well-positioned for sustainable, long-term success.
The acquisition of Willow Tree signals the start of a new acquisitive growth phase for the group. From 2026 onwards, Storal intends to return to a more consistent pattern of growth through the acquisition of high-quality nurseries that are deeply embedded in their communities and closely aligned with the group’s values and standards.
Sarah Mackenzie, CEO of Storal comments: “Willow Tree is a brilliant nursery with a strong local reputation, and that is a credit to the nursery team led by manager Amie Culley. Amie has developed a setting that genuinely reflects the needs of its community – warm, ambitious for children, and supportive of its people. The quality of the provision and the culture within the team were clear from our earliest conversations.
“We are focused on backing great leaders, and Amie will be absolutely critical to our plans for Willow Tree as we look to build on the strong foundations already in place. Our role is to support the team with the investment, infrastructure and opportunities that allow them to continue thriving. I am delighted to welcome Amie, her team and the families to Storal.”
Amie Culley, Nursery Manager at Willow Tree Nursery, added: “Joining Storal feels like a natural next step for Willow Tree. From the outset, it was clear that Sarah and the wider leadership team genuinely value people, quality and community – the same principles that have shaped our nursery since we opened. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built here, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead as part of a group that shares our ambition to provide the best care for children.”
Following the acquisition, Storal remains one of the largest and highest-rated quality nursery groups in the sector, offering over 5,834 places across 55 nurseries. While growing in size, the Storal team remains as committed as ever to supporting their individual team members across the country and equipping them to deliver a service that is authentic to the communities, families, and children they serve.
