Bonnie Bear Day Care is a brand new nursery owned by husband and wife, it is start up organisation that provides childcare services in Walton, in Liverpool, Merseyside.
Hayley, 36 and Charlie Murtagh, 41 took over the Old Plough Pub on Rice Lane in Walton following the loss of their baby girl Bonnie and have turned it into Bonnie Bear Day Care.
The couple have spent a long time working on the renovation, putting everything and all their savings into fulfilling their dream.
Complications with Hayley’s pregnancy occurred in February 2020 after her waters broke four months early.
Having been admitted to hospital to be monitored she developed a water infection shortly after.
On the fourth day during her stay, Hayley felt reduced movement and was sent for an emergency scan.
Unable to hear a heartbeat, it was at this point the couple were told Bonnie wasn’t going to make it.
Following the horrific experience, the couple from Orrell Park needed something to keep them going and decided to pursue the idea of opening a children’s day care nursery.
Hayley, who also worked in the HR department at Liverpool University had spoke about the possibilty of doing this two years before, however didnt have a suiltable building to take over.
They were sitting on the couch and decided they needed to persue the nursery idea now and contact the current owner to see if it was available and it was!
They started the renovations turning it into a nursery and obviously named it after Bonnie. People from the area were delighted it wasn’t going to be demolished as previous planning permission had been agreed and Hayley and Charlies had saved it.
The improvement they are looking make to enhance their nursery provision is Forest School.
Having thrown everything into the renovation of the building, the couple are unable to raise the funds themselves in order to create a forest school enviroment yet they have found the outdoor space to do so and our hoping the local community can support us with this for it to remain sustainable.
