International Recognition for Reaseheath’s Food Centre

/in /by

Reaseheath College’s Food Centre in Cheshire has gained a globally recognised Grade A certification for food safety from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) for the third successive year.  The college remains the first and only educational institution in Britain to achieve the accreditation for BRC issue 7, the latest benchmark for best practice in food manufacture.

The quality mark was approved after an exacting 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 food safety procedures, cleanliness of the facility, knowledge of staff and students and the traceability of food ingredients.

The successful bid was led by Reaseheath’s newly appointed Quality Assurance Manager Shaun Whitlock, who said: “Any changes to the BRC standards are a difficult time for industry, however the college has taken this head on and achieved the results we wanted. Changes to the standard include stricter supplier management, labelling control and prevention of food fraud.

“The team has worked extremely hard to ensure we can deliver the best possible service to our students and local businesses and should be congratulated on their success.  Thanks to their hard work, we can ensure the ever changing standards followed within industry are replicated in a controlled learning environment.”

As well as Shaun’s appointment, the Food Centre’s team has been reinvigorated with the promotion of Nick Blakemore to Food Centre Manager from Curriculum Manager, and the recruitment of Emily Fisher as the new commercial development manager. Emily, who has previously been employed by several blue chip companies, is working closely with national and international businesses on food trials and training. Julie Bent has been promoted to Commercial Development Co-Ordinator.

There have also been some major renovations to the bakery to allow the introduction of a Bakery and Patisserie foundation degree.

Reaseheath’s £7 million Food Centre was opened in 2011 and remains 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 recruited directly from the food industry, the centre has dairy processing halls and production areas for butchery, bakery, cake design and confectionery. Many local, national and international food and drink manufacturers use the facilities for new product development, technical advice or staff training. These partnerships lead to work experience and job opportunities for the college’s food technology students. The college also offers training sessions to members of the public which include cake decoration, HACCP and food safety.

For further details see www.reaseheathfoodcentre.com

Caption: Shaun Whitlock and other members of the processing halls team celebrate gaining BRC7

Families flock to Reaseheath College’s Lambing and Zoo Weekend

/in /by

Hundreds of local families flocked to Reaseheath College over the weekend for the first of two lambing and zoo events.

Spring has sprung in the Nantwich college’s lambing sheds with the arrival of the first newborns of the season. The lambing weekends have been a major draw to the college over the past 20 years, with many visitors returning each season to meet the lambs and hopefully experience a live birth. 500 expectant ewes are due to produce 1,000 lambs, including three sets of quads and 59 sets of triplets. The college’s agriculture students have been staying up through the night to make sure the lambs and their mothers get the best care.

The campus zoo is also open to the public. The zoo houses over 1,000 animals including meerkats, lemurs, tapirs, otters, companion animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, reptiles and amphibians. Families can get involved in handling and flying birds of prey, thanks to student members of Reaseheath’s Birds of Prey Society who are running special sessions with some of the college’s owls.

Reaseheath’s lambing and zoo event is on again next weekend, March 12 and 13 (10am – 4pm)

 A family ticket for both attractions is £25.

Find out more at www.reaseheath.ac.uk/lambing

Watch a group of children who had the opportunity to see triplets being born at our Lambing event on Sunday:

Wildlife undergraduates introduced to life behind the lens

/in /by

Wildlife Conservation and Ecology undergraduates have been learning how to shoot and edit videos as part of their course.

Twenty-six final year students who are studying a ‘wildlife in the media’ module spent the half term week studying conservation film-making, delivered on campus by the Wildeye International School of Wildlife Film-making.

This is the first time we have completed this exciting module, and it has given our undergraduates some excellent skills which will help them to record, communicate and promote their research projects.

Delivered by Wildeye Principal Piers Warren and Camera and Production tutor Mike Linley, both of whom have worked with major broadcasters, the training covered all the skills required to make a relevant conservation film. Research, planning and storyboarding was followed by training in practical production which included filming techniques, sound recording and editing., and our students also had training in stills photography.

Ten groups each made a two-minute film followed by feedback which will be invaluable as they need to complete an eight-minute video by April as their final project.  Their subjects ranged from zoo residents including otters, meerkats, birds of prey, fish, frogs and leaf cutter ants to wildlife on campus such as rabbits, ducks and squirrels.

They also enjoyed a photographic competition – here’s the winning shot taken by Amy Callaghan:

Amy Callaghan's winning Robin photography

Amy Callaghan’s winning Robin photography

The course was so successful that we are already planning to offer it annually to undergraduates.

Said Piers: “Film-making is a powerful way of putting out a message.  Having a zoo on site has been a tremendous asset and this, along with the grounds and lake, have given us the scope for a project which has tested the students’ observational skills and knowledge of habitat and animal behaviour.  They have also had to work as a team to a tight deadline, all skills which will hopefully help them in their future careers.”

Earlier this month members of Reaseheath’s Conservation Society enjoyed a lecture from wildlife film-maker Madelaine Westwood, founder of the Great Apes Film Initiative (GAFI), who has co-authored a book on conservation film-making with Piers.

For further details about our animal management degrees see: www.reaseheath.ac.uk/higher-education (animal science)

For further details about Wildeye see www.wildeye.co.uk

 

Dodson & Horrell Launch Bursary to Support British Equestrian Industry

/in /by

Europe’s leading equine feed manufacturer Dodson & Horrell is pleased to announce the launch of the Dodson & Horrell British Equestrian Bursary that aims to enhance and support the equestrian industry.

Are you a dedicated rider who would benefit from funding towards extra training? Do you know a deserving charity that is in need of specialist equipment? Are you or is someone you know embarking on an equestrian course and would like a helping hand? Would you like to recognise your equine physiotherapist or farrier who has gone beyond the norm for your horse? Then make sure you nominate for the bursary.

Dodson & Horrell is offering a bursary of £2,000 to each of the winners of the four categories to contribute towards funding such as equipment, training, education and travel. Entrants can either nominate a deserving person or organisation who they think will benefit from the prize, or they can put forward their own application.

The four categories are:

  • Equine Health (veterinarian, physiotherapist, equine dentist, farrier)
  • Inspirational Rider
  • Equine Charity
  • Equine Supporter (groom, parents, friend, trainer)

The winners will not only receive financial help but will also have access to expert nutritional advice from Dodson & Horrell and a VIP day out at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials in Derbyshire on Saturday 14th May 2016 where they will be awarded their prize.

Nominations will be shortlisted by industry experts including the world renowned cross country Course Designer Ian Stark OBE and equestrian enthusiast and Marketing Director of Dodson & Horrell, Sam Horrell.

The winner from the final shortlisted entries will be nominated by public vote through the Dodson & Horrell website and the four winners will be announced on Wednesday 27th April.

Dodson & Horrell Marketing Director Sam Horrell commented “We are excited to announce the launch of our bursary and believe it is a valuable opportunity for the equine industry. We look forward to receiving the nominations and selecting the final three in each category and it will be fascinating to view the nominations as they come through.”

Nominations open on Friday 29th January 2016 and close Sunday 6 March 2016 midnight GMT. To find out more about the bursary and how to apply please visit the website www.dodsonandhorrell.com.

 

Brazilian students’ visit strengthens Reaseheath’s international links

/in /by

Six Brazilian students are spending nine weeks with us as part of the Association of Colleges ‘Skills without Borders’ initiative.

The six, who have joined programmes in our Countryside and Food Technology departments, are already studying those subjects at university or college and have come to us to develop their academic and practical skills.

The students are from the Minas Gerais region near Rio de Janeiro and all are enjoying their first visit to Britain. Apart from furthering their studies, they’re enjoying being part of the Reaseheath community, sampling life in the UK and improving their English. They’ve visited Chester, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and Paris, and will go to London at the end of their stay.

Sarah Amorim, 18, and Julia Silva, 19, who are both studying a Level  3 technical course in environmental management in Brazil, have joined our Level 3 Diploma countryside students. Both want to help their home country  to become more sustainable –  Julia wants to be an environmental engineer while Sarah aims to work as an environmental technician before moving into management.

Samia Oliveira and Luan Marciano at the Food Centre

Samia Oliveira and Luan Marciano at the Food Centre

The two are really enjoying their practical sessions, particularly a trip to Delamere Forest where they joined students helping to improve the habitat for the white-faced darter. The darter is one of Britain’s rarest dragonflies and has recently been reintroduced to Delamere by Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

Said Julia: “The whole experience has been fantastic. Everyone has been very welcoming and we’re loving the social life.”

Undergraduates Nagela Ruphael, 20, and Alessandra Bina, 22, who are studying for environmental related degrees, have joined our Foundation Degree in Countryside Conservation and Recreational Management while Samia Oliveira, 20, and Luan Marciano, 25, are working alongside the  Eden cohort who are taking their Foundation Degree in Dairy Technology.  All four are currently studying at the University IF Sudeste MG near Rio.

Both food students have appreciated the opportunity to up their practical skills in our dairy processing halls and have made cheeses and other products.

Samia said: “This has been a great opportunity to experience something new. We use the same principles in our practical sessions in Brazil, but here we are able to spend more time ‘hands-on’ and are making a wider range of products. We’re also learning to use the same equipment as you find in industry, which is fantastic.”

The ‘Skills without Borders’ initiative is a pilot project aimed at providing Level 3 and Level 5 vocational students from Minas Gerais with the opportunity to develop new skills and to widen their understanding of global culture. We are one of three colleges in the country  to have been selected to host students in this initial programme.

  • There are a number of other international developments in the pipeline, with a strategic direction that focuses on our land-based specialisms within higher level technical education (level 3 to 5). These could include student exchange, consultancy and student recruitment.
  • This month Nick Blakemore and James Bickerton are to visit Saudi Arabia to provide curriculum consultancy support to a developing Dairy Technology College. We are also going to host a visit by a Finnish University to explore a curriculum partnership with Horticulture and Countryside, and become involved with a shadow leadership programme with a land-based College in China.

Header image caption: Countryside students Nagela Ruphael, Alessandra Bina, Sarah Amorim and Julia Silva with Assistant Dean Mark Harris

Reaseheath welcomes British Grassland Society onto campus

/in /by

The country’s leading forum in the science and practice of grass and forage production, The British Grassland Society (BGS), has relocated to offices at Reaseheath College.

BGS was established in 1945 to serve as a communication forum, through events and publications, for the profitable and sustainable use of grass and forage. Membership is open to all with an interest in grassland agriculture, whether in the UK or overseas.

The organisation’s move from Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, to Cheshire places it at the heart of a major grassland region and, by being located at a land-based college, brings it closer to some of the young people who will form the future of the farming industry.

As well as having members and affiliates in the UK, the society has many active members overseas and is a member of the European Grassland Federation

The move is great news for Reaseheath College, as the BGS brings together those who have an active interest in the science and practice of grass and forage production and utilisation. These include researchers, farmers, advisers, teachers, students and technical members of the agricultural industry, all of whom aim to advance grassland farming through education, research and practice.

It is hoped that the new partnership may lead to the BGS becoming a valuable specialist educational resource, with the possibility of guest lectures and the potential in time for undergraduates and Level 3 students to become involved in appropriate project work. Reaseheath’s Agricultural Development Academy (RADA) is also looking forward to further developing its working relationship with the society.

BGS Director Elaine Jewkes said: “It’s great to be at a vibrant place of learning such as Reaseheath. I’m looking forward to strengthening our links with the college, which is itself a high profile and respected centre for agricultural education.

“I hope it will help us to further our central aim – to communicate improved methods of grassland production and use through research and the latest technology to the wider agricultural community.”

Find out more about the BGS by visiting www.britishgrassland.com

Lambs herald Spring at Reaseheath College

/in , /by

Hundreds of local families are expected to flock to Reaseheath College in Nantwich this weekend for the first of two lambing events.

Spring has already arrived in the college’s lambing sheds with the arrival of the first newborns of the season. The lambing weekends have been a major draw to the college over the past 20 years, with many visitors returning each season to meet the lambs and hopefully experience a live birth.

Agriculture student Matt Broady with an early arrival

Agriculture student Matt Broady with an early arrival

The campus zoo, which is one of the best at any educational institution in the country, is also open to the public. Both attractions are open on March 5 and 6 (10am – 4pm) and again on March 12 and 13.

The college has a flock of 500 expectant ewes which will produce 1,000 lambs before the end of the month. Three sets of quads and 59 sets of triplets are expected.  During quiet times in the lambing sheds, visitors can watch a big screen showing highlights of the action and watch experts demonstrating the special care required for the delivery and care of the lambs.

Reaseheath’s zoo houses over 1,000 animals including meerkats, lemurs, tapirs, otters, birds of prey, companion animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, reptiles and amphibians.  Activities include face painting and educational talks by Reaseheath zoo keepers.

Reaseheath’s sheep unit manager Ollie Bagley, 23, a former Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture student, is in charge of the lambing flock helped by a rota of current students who are gaining practical experience in the lambing sheds.

He said: “Lambing is traditionally the first sign of spring and this event is always very popular. Opening the lambing sheds gives us the chance to show what we do here.  As well as giving the public the unique experience of seeing lambs being born, it is also a great opportunity for us to tell them about the farming calendar and about the food on their plate.”

A family ticket for both attractions is £25

Find out more at www.reaseheath.ac.uk/lambing

Reaseheath audience enjoys top tips from eventer Lucinda Fredericks

/in , /by

Competitors, students and staff were privileged to gain training insights from international three day event rider, trainer and businesswoman Lucinda Fredericks during a lecture demonstration at Reaseheath’s Equestrian Centre.

Lucinda, who formerly competed for Great Britain and now represents Australia, shared her tips for training horses from advanced eventers to children’s ponies.

Lucinda Fredericks with promising eventer EFS Rambo

Lucinda Fredericks with promising eventer EFS Rambo

She drew on successes which include winning three of the world’s six four star FEI events – Burghley, Badminton and Rolex Kentucky – and team silver at the Beijing Olympics 2008 with the charismatic little mare Headley Britannia. She also competed at the 2012 London Olympics with another of her top rides, Flying Finish, and was coach of the bronze medal winning Hong Kong team at the 2014 Asian Games.

Ably assisted by her 12 year-old daughter Ellie and the team from her livery and training yard in Wiltshire, Lucinda demonstrated training methods which could be used at home to prepare for the coming competition season.

Telling her Reaseheath audience that ‘riding is all about timing, feel and balance’, Lucinda used ground poles to shorten and lengthen the trot and canter strides of novice ride Frankie.

She then moved on to promising eventer EFS Rambo, a six year-old  approaching his second season after successfully completing four pre-novice and three one star events. Flatwork focusing on rhythm in all paces was followed by jumping a small course of fences.

It was then the turn of Moorland Oscar, an eye-catching six year-old Dartmoor x Apaloosa, ridden by Ellie and being produced for sale. Lucinda first demonstrated lunging techniques which adults could use to prepare ponies when their young jockeys were unavailable. Ellie then popped Oscar over single fences, culminating in an impressively narrow, single upright barrel which earned them a round of applause.

Grand finale was delivered by Lucinda and her eight-year old stallion Britannia’s Mail (Marley), first son by embryo transfer of Headley Britannia by premier eventing stallion Jaguar Mail. This stunning horse completed nine intermediate events last year with Lucinda alongside his stud duties – a fantastic testament to his temperament and ability.

The event, judged by many visitors as one of the best yet, is one of a regular schedule of informative demonstrations, courses and competitions offered at Reaseheath’s Equestrian Centre.

For more details see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/reaseheath-equestrian-centre

Cake puts the icing on cub scouts centenary celebrations

/in /by

Cub and beaver scouts from the 1st South West Cheshire District celebrated the group’s 100th birthday with a special cake made by bakery students from Reaseheath College, Nantwich.

The celebration was doubly special because this year is both the centenary of the Crewe based group, which is one of the oldest in the country, and of the cub scout movement nationwide.

1st South West Cheshire District beaver Henry Duncan (6), and cub scouts George Duncan (9), Brodie Evans (7), Aaliyah Wilson (8) and Hannah Evans (9) receive the cake from Reaseheath head of Food Nick Blakemore, Sam Copeland and students Katie Brittleton, Susan Thomas and Hayley Clibborn

1st South West Cheshire District beaver Henry Duncan (6), and cub scouts George Duncan (9), Brodie Evans (7), Aaliyah Wilson (8) and Hannah Evans (9) receive the cake from Reaseheath head of Food Nick Blakemore, Sam Copeland and students Katie Brittleton, Susan Thomas and Hayley Clibborn

Members and their families were joined by key officials of the movement at a party last weekend at a scout camp at Linnet Clough in Marple near Stockport. The four tier cake, decorated with scouting themes including a tent, campfire, neckerchief, map and badges, provided the centrepiece for the party feast.

Twenty Level 3 Diploma in Professional Bakery students developed the design and produced the cake after a request from Reaseheath Food Technologist Jenny Newall, who is an Assistant Cub Scout Leader of the group.

Said Lecturer and Course Manager Sam Copeland: “I’m extremely proud of the way my students worked as a team and rose to the challenge. Developing a four tier cake to professional standards in nine hours is no mean feat.”

The Ist South West Cheshire group meets weekly in the scout hall in Bedford Street, Crewe, and has a membership of 31 cub scouts, 24 beavers and over 40 scouts.

Tim Owen, also an Assistant Cub Scout Leader, added: “The cake was very impressive and provided the final touch to what was a very enjoyable celebration of 100 years of cub scouting in Crewe.”

Wildlife film makers encourage undergraduates to ‘make a difference’

/in /by

Wildlife film makers Madelaine Westwood and Piers Warren are encouraging Reaseheath undergraduates to ‘make a difference’ by recording their concerns about endangered animals on film.

Wildlife Conservation and Ecology undergraduates Sam Field, Tom Holloway, Victoria Johnstone and Gareth Myers-Cann, who are studying wildlife film making, chat to Madelaine Westwood.

Wildlife Conservation and Ecology undergraduates Sam Field, Tom Holloway, Victoria Johnstone and Gareth Myers-Cann, who are studying wildlife film making, chat to Madelaine Westwood.

Madelaine, founder of the Great Ape Film Initiative (GAFI), uses cinema and television to spread the message about vulnerable habitats which are shared by apes, other species and people in places like Africa and South East Asia.

Invited to our college as a guest lecturer by Reaseheath’s Conservation Society, Madelaine, who has worked for all major broadcasters in Britain and abroad, told our animal management undergraduates how targeted screenings of GAFI films had been viewed by 300 million people in 15 countries.

The GAFI team, which uses an innovative pedal powered cinema when conventional power is not available, aims to encourage local communities to create solutions which benefit both themselves and the endangered species which share their home.

Audiences range from local school children to politicians. In some cases the film showings result in local solutions or national changes to the law on issues such as climate change and unsustainable clearing of forests.

“Films are a powerful communication tool, particularly when they are backed up by social media, which can have far reaching effects,” Madelaine told her audience. “By getting your message out in a way which goes to the heart of communities, you can change human behaviour and really make a difference.”

Madelaine, who works closely with local non-government organisations when spreading her environmental message, later gave a second lecture which was open to all students, staff and the public.

Learn more at www.gafi4apes.org.uk

  • Next week undergraduates on our BSc Wildlife, Conservation and Ecology degree who are studying on the module ‘Wildlife in the Media’ will enjoy practical workshops on film making and photography led by Madelaine’s colleague Piers Warren. Piers is Principal of Wildeye, an international school of wildlife film-making, and is co- editor with Madelaine of a book on conservation film making which is suggested reading for our students. Said Course Manager Ben Coleman: “This is a very exciting  opportunity for our students to learn from the best.”

Header image caption: Madelaine Westwood during her lecture with animal management undergraduates