Kevin Arbuckle tells toxic tales of venomous animals

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A couple of the Reaseheath Herpetological and Entomological Society (RHES) members attended the monthly SciBar gathering in Liverpool. Held at The Ship and Mitre pub on Tuesday the 3rd of March, this meeting hosted Kevin Arbuckle, evolutionary biologist from the University of Liverpool. Kevin gave a talk on Telling Toxic Tales: Chemical Warfare in Animal Evolution. The talk described many of different varieties of venoms and poisons that are out there in the wild. Also described were the different methods of not only obtaining these toxins, but the various methods of delivery used by a wide range of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates as well as the select few mammal and bird species  which use venoms or poison to their advantage.

Event poster for Kevin’s talkrapidly

He went on to discuss how species that obtain venom in their evolutionary history have never been shown to lose it; in most cases they actually increase their toxicity levels. He presented a method of visualising the effect the venom has on a species population numbers with an highly detailed equation that takes into account many different factors affecting survival. He then finished on the point that the majority of species that have either developed venom are those most prone to being in population decline due to the intense energy output in order to develop these venoms.

 George Collinson

RHES Committee Member

Gary Dickinson discusses the challenges of rehoming reptiles

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Earlier this year Gary Dickinson, the co-founder of North Wales Reptile and  Raptor Sanctuary (RHES’s chosen charity), visited the College to talk to our members and discuss the problems he is facing in trying to rescue and rehome unwanted reptiles and raptors. He often receives phone calls and emails from keepers that no longer want their pets for whatever reason and he is rapidly running out of space to house them in.

During his talk Gary asked RHES members their opinions on several issues, including whether or not larger snake species (reticulated pythons, Python reticulatus, for example) should be kept in captivity. This has recently become a controversial topic as many keepers, despite their best intentions, cannot successfully keep these snakes  due to space and time restrictions.

Gary delivering his talk to RHES members (1)

He also discussed the quality of pet shops around the country that are selling exotics and how many of which should not, in his opinion, be licensed to do so due to poor welfare (etc.) of the animals in these shops. His past experiences in this profession were also discussed during the meeting.

We would like to thank Gary for taking the time out of his already busy schedule to come down and visit us, despite less than favourable weather conditions, which meant many members couldn’t get to the College to attend. We also hope that our fundraising efforts  bring about a lot of well-deserved and greatly  needed funds for his efforts at the sanctuary.

 Ray Reynolds

RHES Committee member

Motor industry links reaps career reward

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Reaseheath motor vehicle department have been forging new links with industry to support alumni career progression.

IMI motor L3 2013 grad David Bailey joins colleagues from Sports and Classic April 2015

David Bailey joins colleagues from Sports and Classic

 

North West Porsche specialists Sports and Classic recently contacted the College for help in recruiting a skilled technician to join their expanding team. Based in Nether Alderley, Cheshire, the sports car experts turned to Reaseheath when their job advertisement campaign proved unsuccessful.

Reaseheath motor vehicle Course Manager Steve Ellis liaised with Michael Bourke, Director and Founder of Sports and Classic and suggested a potential candidate, David Bailey.

Said Michael: “I first met the teaching staff and students from Reaseheath at the Porsche RS trackday at Oulton Park and was really impressed with students’ enthusiasm for the automotive industry.

“When my business moved premises due to increased turnover and I was unable to find the right professional to join my team, Reaseheath College seemed the logical place to turn to for advice.”

David, 20, a former Reaseheath IMI Level  3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair student maintained good links with the College on completing his studies in 2013 and was keen to take the next step on his career ladder. With an interest in working with prestige and highly technical cars, Steve believed David was the perfect man for the job.

Said David: “I was really pleased to be contacted by Steve and put forward for the position at Sports and Classic. It was great to think that I was on Steve’s radar when considering an opportunity for a highly skilled technician.”

Already proving an asset to the business after just over a month, David has settled in well at Sports and Classic and is thoroughly enjoying his technician role.

Growing careers in horticulture

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Young Horticulturalist of the Year regional winner with Reaseheath's Sarah Hopkinson

Young Horticulturist of the Year regional winner with Reaseheath’s Sarah Hopkinson

Professional horticulturists, careers advisers, students and prospective students packed into Reaseheath’s lecture theatre recently for first North West Grow Careers event.

The day commenced with an introduction to horticulture for career advisers by Chartered Institute of Horticulture Branch Chair, Sue Nicholas, followed by Reaseheath’s Curriculum Area Manager, Sarah Hopkinson, who provided an insight in to the horticulture department’s offering and the new Nation Centre for Food Futures at Reaseheath. The afternoon saw eight industry speakers from the design, landscaping, commercial production and management sectors of horticulture discuss their careers and businesses.

Speakers included: multi RHS gold medalist designer Pip Probert; Phil Pearson from APS Salads (the largest supplier of tomatoes to Tesco); Faye Steer, Deputy Head Gardener for Chatsworth House; Lee Webster from The Landscape Group and former Reaseheath student Sue Beesley, who is also the owner of Blue Cottage Gardens and Nursery.

The speakers highlighted a wide range of career opportunities within the horticulture industry, with many urging the keen audience to pursue a career in horticulture and fill the gaps in specialist knowledge and skills.

Sue Beesley shares her career journey through the horticulture industry

Sue Beesley shares her career journey through the horticulture industry

The Landscape Group actively promoted opportunities within their business including discussing their Greener Graduate programme – with many students registering their interest on the day!

The Grow Careers event was organised in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) and was followed in the evening by the CIH Young Horticulturist of the Year competition regional final, hosted by the horticulture department.

 

 

By Craig Bailey, Reaseheath Lecturer in Horticulture and Course Manager for FdSc Garden and Landscape Design 

 

 

 

Reaseheath College Higher Education Tuition Fees 2015/16

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Tuition fees have been confirmed for all new students starting this September on Harper Adams validated courses.

These can be viewed on our finance for Higher Education page.

For more information on tuition fees and financial support contact the Student Finance Team on 01270 613205.

 

 

Schools battle it out in Reaseheath’s Great Pie Bake-Off

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Budding food technologists from schools across the region battled it out in a baking challenge laid down by Reaseheath College’s Food Department

Ten finalists from secondary schools throughout Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Manchester and the Wirral made it through to the Schools Great British Pie Bake Off, held in our specialist Food Centre last week.  The pupils, who had to bake a pie or pastry with a sporting theme, stunned the judging panel with the standard and originality of their products.

Overall winner was Harry Brown, 14, from Fallibroome Academy, Macclesfield, with his ‘Two Flavour Bike Pie’, an artistic impression of a bike inspired by the Tour de France. His entry had coq au vin and apple pies for wheels, a frame made of bread and a road made from chocolate.

Harry, who enjoys baking as a hobby, won a cash prize plus two iPads for his school. He said: “Reaseheath’s bakery facilities are really impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was great to get such positive feedback from the judges. They said they really liked the combination of flavours in my pies!”

Second was Maddie Stevens, 15, a pupil at West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral, whose ‘Going for Gold’ savoury pie celebrated the commonwealth games and the countries involved. The pie, which was decorated with gold glitter dust, had tasty layers of spinach, ricotta cheese and butternut squash.

Equal third were Ben Pratt, 13, and Connor Whalley, 14, from Sir Thomas Boughey High School in Stoke on Trent, and Megan Justice, 14, a pupil of Great Sankey High School, Warrington. As a tribute the high ranking Greek football team, Ben and Connor made Greek filo pastries filled with spinach, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese while Megan chose the World Cup 2014 winner, Germany, as inspiration for her Black Forest Winner Pie.

Other finalists were:

  • Alex Camp, 13, from Eaton Bank Academy, Congleton (Le Tour de Clanger)
  • Kathryn O’Hara, 15, and Megan Quayle, 14, from Great Sankey High School, Warrington (Apple Struesel Tart)
  • Leah Robinson, 15, from Wellington School, Altrincham (Medal Pie)
  • Grace Callaghan, 15, from Wellington School , Altrincham (Football Pie)
  • Erin Yorke, 14, from The Heath School, Runcorn (Reggae Pie)
  • Emily Bozier , 15, and Emily Dutton 14, from Grove School, Market Drayton (Galloping to Victory)

The judging panel of Keith Fisher, Butchery Development Manager for BPEX (the British Pig Executive), Cheshire WI judge Mary Hignett and David Thomson, Sales Executive for Bako, a baking products and ingredients supplier, were looking for originality, presentation and taste.

Keith Fisher said: “I was very impressed with the organisation and professionalism of the young people, and there was so much passion and enthusiasm. It was a privilege to judge the competition. Reaseheath’s food department should be congratulated on running such an inspired and exciting competition.”

This was the second time that our Food Department has run the bake-off challenge and it attracted about 80 entries. It has proved so popular that there are already plans to repeat it next year. Many of the young entrants have been inspired to look at careers in the Food Industry and some are intending to study with us in the future.

For further details of Reaseheath’s food courses see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/food-technology

 

Reaseheath welcomes Czech dairy students

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A few weeks ago Reaseheath became home to a group of 13 dairy students and a tutor from the Czech Republic for two weeks.

The students have been enjoying an Agri-Food study visit funded by the European Erasmus+ VET programme, which aims to promote vocational educational training within the European community.

Our visitors spent three days with our Agriculture team milking cows, lambing and learning some basic theory about UK agriculture. They then joined our Food Department for a week, where they learnt some fundamentals about meat, dairy, and bakery technology. This included a variety of practical sessions to support their learning, including making soft cheeses, butter, lemon curd and croissants – they certainly ate well!

 

The group with Agriculture Programme Leader Iain Clarke and lecturer Alan Brown.

The group with Agriculture Programme Leader Iain Clarke and lecturer Alan Brown.

The students, ages 18-20, stayed in Platt Hall, our newest student halls of residence. For nine it was their first time in England, so this not only gave them a taste of life on a UK campus but also helped them develop their English language skills and gave them an appreciation of UK culture.

They also enjoyed a visit to Liverpool and its many museums and arts centres. Their final day was particularly memorable, with the solar eclipse ending their stay.

The students are all final year students at VOSP SPSM Kromeriz, a specialist dairy college several hours from Prague. We hope this visit will be the first of many – and plans are already afoot to arrange a return visit for our students in the near future.

Kathy Merrett, Food Programme Leader

Repeat recognition for Reaseheath’s Food Centre

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Reaseheath College’s Food Centre has gained an internationally recognised Grade A certification from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) for the second year running.

The Nantwich College’s Food Centre remains the first and only educational institution in Britain to achieve Grade A at BRC6, the highest possible standard for food safety.

The quality mark was approved after a repeat audit showed that Reaseheath’s food manufacturing systems continue to operate under highly controlled conditions and to the highest industry standards. Areas inspected included hygiene procedures, cleanliness of the facility and the traceability of food ingredients.

The accolade is particularly prestigious as many good businesses strive, but never achieve, this ultimate standard. The successful bid was led by Reaseheath’s Technical Manager Katharina Vogt.

Food Centre Head Toni-Anne Harrison said: “This has been a second tremendous achievement and we are all very proud. Although we gained BRC6 at Grade A last year, it does not guarantee a repeat result. This achievement was due to the continuing hard work and dedication put in by the food team and illustrates how an understanding of industry procedures and practices underpin everything that we do in the Food Centre. It can only increase our credence and standing within the food industry and to increased exposure to blue chip companies”.

Reaseheath’s £7 million Food Centre was opened in 2011 and is one of the best equipped food processing teaching and practical facilities in Europe.

Built to exacting standards and staffed by a team of specialist food technologists, the Centre has dairy processing halls and production for butchery, bakery and confectionery. Many local, national and international food and drink manufacturers use our facilities for new product development or staff training. These partnerships lead to work experience and job opportunities for the College’s food technology students.

For further details on our Food Centre please click here.

 

Reaseheath’s new gym praised by Olympic gymnast

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Beth Tweddle and Georgia Lush (Level 3 Sports Student) on exercise bike

Beth Tweddle and Georgia Lush (Level 3 Sports Student) on exercise bike

Britain’s greatest female gymnast Beth Tweddle raised the bar when she opened a £1 million sports science department at Reaseheath College in Nantwich.

The London Olympics 2012 bronze medallist officially opened Reaseheath’s high tech gym and new sports science laboratory when she visited the campus last week.

Beth, who started her career aged seven at the Crewe and Nantwich Gymnastics Club, went on to represent Great Britain at three Olympic Games and became a triple World Champion and winner of six European championships and seven national championships before taking a break from competitive sport in 2012. She then became a TV star by winning ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’.

During her visit Beth admired the gym’s high tech equipment, which is the same as that used by England footballers at the Football Association’s headquarters, and includes a strength and conditioning zone equipped to the same specification as the 2012 Olympic village. She also watched as serious athletes completed tests in the sports science lab, which has over £40,000 worth of equipment.

The new facility is used to train sports performance and public services students and is used by elite athletes including Crewe Alex FC players. It is also open to all students and staff and local sportspeople can book a personal fitness revue in the sports science lab.

Beth, whose family home is in Bunbury said: “As a local girl it has been great to visit Reaseheath and see the new sports department. It’s brilliant that the college’s sports students have access to such great facilities and can also work alongside elite athletes.”

“Sport transformed my life and it’s good to know so many enthusiastic young people are considering it as a career. It is also great to see all students being encouraged to keep fit as part of their daily routine”.

For more information about Reaseheath’s sports courses visit www.reaseheath.ac.uk/studysports or phone 01270 613242. For details about Reaseheath’s new Ladies’ and Men’s Football Academy email kate.humphrey@reaseheath.ac.uk  

Beth Tweddle cuts ribbon with students Lily Moreland and Jim Kelly

Beth Tweddle cuts ribbon with students Lily Moreland and Jim Kelly

Marine mammal emergency averted!

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A beached pilot whale and several dolphins and seals were successfully rescued from the front lawn at Reaseheath College on Tuesday.

Fortunately the emergency wasn’t for real, but a simulated situation to enable 37 animal management students to gain an internationally recognised qualification in wildlife rescue.

The one day course was offered to degree students and to Access to HE students who are studying science or animal management. After a morning of lectures and an afternoon of practical instruction using inflatable life sized models, all students achieved their British Divers Marine Life Rescue “Marine Mammal Medic” certificate.

This well recognised award qualifies our students to help in day-to-day marine wildlife emergencies and will be a fantastic addition to their CVs.

The training day was organised by HE Course Manager Kizzy Beaumont and was the third time we have offered this qualification to our students. It has proved so popular that Kizzy is now planning to run a follow up ‘wet’ course on the coast, when students will get hands-on with the rescue of a live marine mammal.

Josh Bufton, a second year Foundation Degree in Zoo Management student, was spotted for his talent by the instructors, who suggested he should widen his knowledge by gaining his advanced qualification.

Josh, who hopes to work with marine species in the future, said “This has been a great opportunity to gain a qualification which will help me to decide what sector I’d like to work in.

“The course was extremely informative and the instructors were very professional. I would highly recommend the training to all students who enjoy learning about marine mammals.”

Co-incidentally one of the instructors, Jayne Dobner, was a Level 3 agriculture student with us in the 1980s and hasn’t been on campus since.

She said: “It’s great to be back. The campus looks a lot more modern than when I was here, but it still has the same friendly vibe!”

Caption: HE animal management students enjoy their marine mammal training on the front lawn