In 2017, Puma Private Equity deployed £2.3 million of equity into Applebarn Nurseries, a childcare business operating under Back to the Garden Childcare. Puma made a subsequent investment of £700,000 to enable it to expand the number of nurseries in the group.

Applebarn Nurseries is a childcare business operating under the brand, Back to the Garden Childcare. The team’s first site, a custom-built 120-place children’s day nursery in Altrincham, South Manchester, opened in September 2018 and continues to show growth in occupancy. The management team include a successful operator of nurseries, together with an experienced developer and contractor.

Puma Private Equity successfully exited Applebarn Nurseries in September 2023.