Reaseheath College helps Cheshire school get full marks for gardening

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Chancellor George Osborne has given full marks to a Cheshire school mentored by Reaseheath College’s Master of Horticulture Harry Delaney.

The Chancellor visited Comberbach Primary School Northwich school last week to help pupils and staff celebrate their Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Level 5 Top School Gardening Award.

The accolade has only been achieved by 16 schools in the north west and is awarded to outstanding gardening projects which are used for teaching and learning and involve pupils, staff and the community.

Comberbach Primary School has a flourishing kitchen garden and pupils grow fruit and vegetables for their school dinners. The varieties include more unusual vegetables such as yams and mini cucumbers and this year will include ‘heritage’ vegetables from Cheshire.

Mr Osborne, who is MP for Tatton and has the school in his constituency, visited the Big Lottery funded project when it was launched two years ago and returned to share its success.

He watched as RHS North West Regional Schools Advisor Anne Gunning handed over the award to Garden Project Leader Babirye Gregory, who leads several Level 5 kitchen garden projects in Cheshire schools. Babirye is a former RHS student at Reaseheath College in Nantwich and Harry Delaney has continued to support her by working with the Comberbach pupils in their garden.

After the presentation, Mr Osborne joined the pupils to admire some of the crops growing in raised beds. After picking Timperley early rhubarb and tasting home-made rhubarb crumble he said: “It’s wonderful seeing this brilliant introduction to gardening. This is a great initiative from the RHS and it has been led very successfully by Babirye Gregory with support from Reaseheath College. I am so pleased that the school has won this award.”

The project is part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which aims to inspire young people into horticulture.

Said Babirye: “This has been a fantastic gardening achievement for our pupils. As a gardener I am passionate about showing young people how satisfying and enjoyable it is to grow their own food. I believe it is vitally important that children have the opportunity to learn where their food comes from. Through gardening, children begin to understand and explore their relationship with the natural world and the impact our food choices make on our planet.”

Commented Harry: “Gardening sessions at school inspired me to take up horticulture as a career but this part of the curriculum has gradually disappeared. It’s really encouraging to see this vital education link restored at Comberbach between the pupils, the soil and cropping plants. I hope that in future we shall see these young gardeners choosing horticulture as a fulfilling and rewarding career.”

Speed car pioneer inspires Reaseheath College’s engineers

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The second fastest men on earth has urged Reaseheath College’s motor vehicle and engineering students to reach for the stars by focusing on careers as professional engineers and scientists.

Richard Noble OBE, former holder of the world land speed record and director of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) Project, described the tremendous opportunities which exist in research, design and build as he launched the Nantwich, Cheshire, college’s upgraded motor vehicle technology department.

The state-of-the-art automotive workshops have undergone over one million pounds of investment and are fitted out with the latest diagnostic equipment. During his tour, Richard chatted to students working on a range of modern vehicles including the college’s own hybrid car. He also admired an eco challenge car, built as a competition project by visiting school pupils, which achieves 350 miles per gallon.

Congratulating Reaseheath on its drive to encourage young people to develop technical knowledge, he said: “The facilities and training here are exactly what the future is all about. Britain’s car fleet is getting increasingly more complex and Reaseheath College is consistently raising the bar for next generation engineers.

“It’s been fascinating to meet so many students who are confidently looking towards their future careers and are keen to learn. There’s a nice buzz about the place and the workshops are superb. What’s notable is that these young people already have many of the technical skills they require to get on in the industry.”

After his tour, Richard gave an inspirational talk to the college’s 250 motor vehicle and agricultural engineering students about the advanced technology which will support his attempt on a new land speed record with BloodhoundSSC.

The complex racing car, built by a multi-national team and sponsored by blue chip companies including Rolls Royce, will attempt to reach 800mph in Northern Cape, South Africa in 2015 and a landmark 1,000 mph in 2016. It will be driven by former RAF fighter pilot Wing Comander Andy Green.

Video and data from the exciting project will be streamed live on internet and accessible for colleges and schools.

Richard, a qualified pilot and entrepreneur, held the world land speed record of 633mph from 1983 to 1997 driving Thrust2. He was also project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which set the current land speed record of 763mph in 1997.

IMIAL Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair students Debra Bligh-Wall, Corey Walton, Will Blackshaw and Cody Brookes meet Richard Noble in Reaseheath’s automotive workshops

IMIAL Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair students Debra Bligh-Wall, Corey Walton, Will Blackshaw and Cody Brookes meet Richard Noble in Reaseheath’s automotive workshops

Cody Brookes, 17, an IMIAL Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair student said: “Listening to Richard was amazing and so inspiring. When we hear that Bloodhound has exceeded 1,000 mph we’ll remember this day as the time we met him at Reaseheath.”

Richard’s audience also included representatives from the Blue Bell Group, Car Transplants, Smiths Autoparts, Auto-mobile, Swansway Garages and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, all of whom support the motor vehicle department.

  • A replica of BloodhoundSSC, along with its education team, will be one of the leading attractions at the Reaseheath Family Festival on Sunday May 18.

 

The car will remain at the college for the following week, when it will be visited by 120 pupils from local schools each day. On Saturday 24th May the car will feature in the launch of the Cheshire Science Festival, which runs until June 1st and aims to encourage more pupils into science, technology, engineering and maths.

 

Reaseheath students look for alternative to soya in sheep feed

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Agricultural students from Reaseheath College are helping to carry out a trial to replace soya with a more sustainable UK grown protein in ewe feed.

Thirty Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture students are assisting Reaseheath Sheep Unit Manager Oliver Bagley and Course Manager Richard Wheeldon to run the trial during the Nantwich, Cheshire college’s busy lambing period in March and early April. Data will be evaluated to see if replacing soya with alternative sources of protein affects the growth weight and kill weight of lambs.

Soya is traditionally imported into this country from South America and is often fed in meal form to pregnant ewes and lambs. Experts believe that the UK needs to produce its own sources of protein to improve the long term sustainability of its sheep production.

The project is funded by EBLEX, the organisation for beef and lamb levy payers in England, and run by ADAS, the agricultural and environmental consultancy. It was offered to Reaseheath because of the college’s partnership with the National Sheep Association.

The trial involves feeding different rations to six groups, each containing 40 twin bearing ewes. All groups are fed TMR rations based on home-produced grass silage. In addition, the control group receives supplementary barley and soya which is replaced in the other groups with blends of rape and fodder beet, barley and wheat dark distillers grains, barley and beans, rape and barley or wheat dark distillers grains and fodder beet.

Callum Pitchford and Laura Bellis fit an EID tag to a lamb

Callum Pitchford and Laura Bellis fit an EID tag to a lamb

Uneaten food is methodically gathered and weighed. All lambs are systematically weighed at birth, four and eight weeks, at weaning and at sale. The lambs are EID tagged, enabling the students to record the data efficiently. The ewes are also weighed directly after lambing.

Kate Phillips, Principal Livestock Consultant with ADAS explained: “There is a need to find  viable and alternative sources to soya which are more sustainable to the UK feed industry. We are delighted that Reaseheath’s agricultural students are helping to carry out this important project for us and we are very much looking forward to receiving their feedback.”

Richard Wheeldon said: “Our students complete investigative projects which include research and data collection as part of their Level 3 course. We believe that these projects, which are similar to a dissertation, encourage our students to continue their studies to degree level and to look at the many science based careers within the industry.

“Taking part in a real life, hands-on trial like this also gives them the unique opportunity to deliver results which will hopefully benefit the industry.”

Visit the Agriculture pages on our website to find out more about our courses.

Public Services learn about life behind bars

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Our public services students found out about the harsh realities of prison life during a day of insightful workshops with national educational charity The No Way Trust.

The Trust’s core aim is to raise awareness among young people about the causes, consequences and penalties of crime and the effects of antisocial behaviour. Its work is of particular interest to our students as some are considering careers in the police or armed forces.

Our Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma students heard presentations from National Co-ordinator Malc Parkes, a former prison officer, and from ex offender ‘Matthew’ and took part in some lively discussions.

Said Malc: “We set out to dispel the myth that prison life is easy and hopefully to stop young people getting into prison. We also need to show them that crime is not always related to gang culture, drugs and guns. Anyone can go to prison if they break the law.

“We’ve also used the opportunity at Reaseheath to explain how the prison service works, what jobs are available and what they entail. The students were very interested, particularly in Matthew’s story, and asked a lot of questions.”

Level 3 Diploma student Chris Powell, 17, said: “The talks were really interesting and made me realise that you can’t judge offenders  until you know about their background and circumstances. I want to go into the police so it was also very useful to understand how the service works.”

The No Way Trust has reached over 4.5 million young people by holding awareness days in colleges, schools and youth groups.

Find out more about studying Public Services at Reaseheath here.

 

Motivated Reaseheath students receive bursaries

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Two motivated students from Reaseheath College, Nantwich, have received bursaries from the Studley College Trust to help them finance their studies.

Jack Devaney, 19, a horticulture student and Dafydd Jones, also 19, who is studying agricultural engineering, received their bursaries from Studley Trustee Michael Walker this week.

Currently studying on Level 3 Extended Diploma programmes, both students are hoping to progress onto degree programmes or into advanced apprenticeships and will use the money to ensure they make the most of academic life at Reaseheath.

Once he has completed his course this summer, Jack has applied to Plymouth University to study 3D design and hopes to become a garden designer. He already had A levels including one in product design when he joined Reaseheath from Aquinas College, Stockport.

Jack, whose father is disabled, said: “The bursary will be a massive help.  It will help me prepare for the future – and it was nice to see the smile on my parents’ faces.”

Dafydd, of Anglesey,  is considering studying for a degree in agricultural engineering  at Harper Adams University or may look for an advanced apprentice with a blue chip company such as Bentley or JCB.

He said: “It was great getting a bursary because it will help me onto the next level of study. Reaseheath staff were very supportive when I decided to apply.”

The Studley College Trust provides financial support for study, training and research in land-based industries. Reaseheath is one of a number of ‘Bursary Partnership Colleges’ which receive an annual allocation of Studley College Funds to award to eligible students. Financial support is available for students who are already studying at college or who are planning to join in the next academic year.

Michael Walker, who is Head of Trentham Garden and Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, said: “Speaking as a Trustee, it is particularly rewarding to be able to support students who are finding it difficult to finance their college studies or who might be held back due to financial constraints. This is an area where we can frequently help, and we have developed a very good relationship with Reaseheath in identifying students who would benefit from our bursaries.

“Both Jack and Dafydd show motivation and commitment to developing their careers and make excellent and deserving candidates for the funding they have received.”

Students applying for a Studley College Trust bursary need to speak to their course tutor first to check eligibility.  Further information and application forms are available from student finance.

For more details on the Studley College Trust see www.studleytrust.co.uk

 

Reaseheath apprentices ensure staff succession

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The crucial role that apprentices play by ensuring staff succession was emphasised at an awards ceremony at Reaseheath College last week.

The ceremony celebrated the achievement of 180 apprentices who gained their qualifications at the Nantwich, Cheshire, specialist college in the past year.

Reaseheath currently trains over 450 apprentices who work in businesses throughout Cheshire and surrounding counties. Most attend college weekly and spend the rest of the week earning and training in the workplace. Although the majority are aged between 16 and 24, Reaseheath also offers adult apprenticeships for those aged over 25.

The scheme is supported by 226 employers including councils, golf clubs, garden maintenance companies, kennels, pet shops, livery stables, florists, farms and the food, construction and timber industries.

Addressing an audience which included employers and family members, Reaseheath Vice Principal Dave Kynaston congratulated the apprentices and their companies for investing in meaningful and valued qualifications which would boost productivity and ensure the future of the UK’s skilled workforce.

He emphasised that apprenticeships had gained favour with both employers and the government and that recruitment was at an all time high, with 850,000 apprentices in the UK.

Guest speaker John Hurst, who oversees management of 15,000 acres for Co-operative Farms and is responsible for the company’s graduate training scheme, said that The Co-operative was working with Reaseheath to ensure that there was a succession of trained and skilled employees within the company who would fill the skills gap when older workers retired.

The agricultural industry was becoming increasingly technical and it was essential that employees were trained in the operation of sophisticated machinery and equipment. His company appreciated the support given by Reaseheath to its training programme.

Also on the podium was Level 3 agriculture apprentice Jordan Kenyon, last year’s Apprentice of the Year, who described his progress as a herdsman with dairy farmer Martin Wheelton of Gawsworth near Macclesfield. His career had moved fast and he now managed two staff and was looking forward to managing a dairy unit or possibly studying business to a higher level.

Apprentice of the Year adam Hughes and Advanced Apprentice of the Year Lyndsay Jones

Top apprentices Adam Hughes and Lyndsay Jones

Top honours of the evening went to Apprentice of the Year Adam Hughes, a plant maintenance engineer for Gunn JCB, and to Advanced Apprentice of the Year Lyndsay Jones, a production operator and machine setter for Aimia Foods, a food and beverages manufacturer.

Both were selected for their commitment to their studies and the quality of their college work, and for their outstanding contribution to their employers’ businesses.

Adam , 20, works at Gunn JCB’s West Bromwich  depot.  He has been with the company for three  years, has completed his Level 2 Diploma in Work Based Learning and has progressed to Level 3. Reaseheath has a long standing training partnership with Gunn JCB and trains apprentices from the company every year.

Lyndsay,  47, is a production operator and machine setter at Aimia Food’s Haydock base, a position which requires him to take full responsibility over three people and five production lines.  Since completing his apprenticeship he has come up with many suggestions which could benefit his company, resulting in him winning an innovation award and  being nominated for the title of ‘Employee of the Year’.

Other principle winners were:

Agriculture apprentice of the year Adam Brown

Best agricultural apprentice Adam Brown

Best Agriculture Apprentice: Adam Brown, 26, who works as an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technician on Reaseheath’s demonstration AD plant. Adam’s duties include guided tours for local farming and community groups, allied businesses and undergraduates. He is also employed on his family’s dairy farm in Holmes Chapel.

 

Best Construction Apprentice (Brickwork): Charlie Emms, 19, who is employed by  M E Parker, a company which specialises in steel shed erection on rural farms in Shropshire. Making the most of his brickworking skills, Charlie carries out the blockwork and helps to erect the steel structure.

 

Best apprentice joiner Ed Oliver with employer Craig Hallworth

Top joinery apprentice Edward Oliver with his employer Craig Hallworth

Best Construction Apprentice (Joinery): Ed Oliver, 18, who works for  Hallworth Construction (Cheshire). The  Northwich company specialises in new build and employs up to 14 staff.  Ed joined the company on leaving school and is one of five apprentices to have completed qualifications at Reaseheath.

 

Best Horticulture Apprentice: Marcus Burke, 25, of Runcorn, a member of the landscape services team at Halton Borough Council. Marcus is one of a team who maintain the borough’s  green spaces including showpiece flower beds and parks in Runcorn and Widnes. Reaseheath trains apprentices for many local authorities including Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council .

 

Best Food Apprentice:  Stephen Halliwell, 30, a blending operator with Aimia Foods

 

Certificates of Excellence:

Sam Lindop (Smilers Building and Groundwork)

Matthew Williams (Ewson Contractors)

Ben Hardwick ((J C Building Service)

Danny Lucock (Halton Borough Council)

Chris Smith (Halton Borough Council)

Jon Hetherington (Halton Borough Council)

 

Certificates of Endeavour:

Matthew Canner ((A & M Construction)

Tom Spibey (R S Developments Construction)

Darren Huxley (Hill Cross Joinery Ltd)

 

Certificates for Outstanding Achievement:

Rod Hughes (Holdcroft and Sons)

Joe Hughes (Holdcroft and Sons)

 

For further details of apprenticeships contact Reaseheath’s Workforce Development team: 01270 613257

 

 

Degree students are inspired by zoological evaluation practices

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On the 3rd March, Cassandra Murray, Evaluation Coordinator from the Zoological Society of London came to visit the Reaseheath Animal Management Department to work with our second year FdSc Zoo Management students. Cassandra worked with students throughout the day focusing on the  importance of visitor surveys and how they can influence decision making within zoos. The students took part in lectures and workshops and created their own visitor survey. They carried out the survey on campus looking into what our current staff and students think of our zoo and how they would like to see it develop. The students are hopefully going to be carrying on with their visitor surveys during the Easter and summer holidays, to find out what the general public think of the Reaseheath Zoo.

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This research can then potentially be used to influence future decision making regarding the Reaseheath Zoo.

Visitor surveys are becoming common practice in zoos and  help influence decision making in a variety of ways; from enclosure design to signage and the utilisation of  funding to name just a few examples. Visitor surveys can provide us with a sound basis for monitoring performance and are useful for future marketing planning and development. This is a new proficiency that our degree students are enthusiastically running with, which is great news for the Reaseheath Zoo!

Kizzy Beaumont

Lecturer in Animal Management

Global eco experience for Reaseheath Countryside students

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Eight first year students from Reaseheath College’s Countryside department are to join environmental projects abroad as part of their summer training.

The students, who are studying for their Level 3 Diploma in Conservation and Wildlife Management at the Nantwich college, will gain practical experience in eco-tourism and in conservation, environmental, and woodland management during a four week funded work placement.

They won the opportunity after successfully applying to Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd., a non-profit making organisation which aims to give UK students and young workers the management experience and practical skills required by the environmental industry. All Reaseheath’s students gained placements against strong competition from applicants from colleges nationwide.

Adam Bailey-Rimmer, 17, from Manchester, Alice Hardwell, 16, from Wrexham and Floris Stoter, 28, from Liverpool, are going to Skálanes Nature Reserve in East Iceland, where they will help to create a centre for Icelandic environment and cultural history. The centre will also be a model for sustainable tourism.

Alice Martin, 16, from Aberystwyth, and  Jasmine  Salmon, 18, from Ellesmere Port,  are off to the Czech Republic to study organic horticulture and permaculture systems. They will be based at Apple Farm, a sustainable small-holding 100 miles east of Prague which aims to teach sustainability, self-sufficiency and education.

John Humphreys, 26, from Wirral, and Richard Laurence, 27, from Nantwich, will join Hylates Limited, an eco-tourism company which is developing environmentally friendly facilities for visitors in Cyprus. Cyprus has a very fragile natural environment which is under pressure from developers. During their placement the two students will try to find sustainable and local solutions which will maintain and improve biodiversity.

Rhys Donnell, 17, from Clwyd  will join preparations for the annual woodfest in the  Dübener Heide Naturpark, Germany, and will also carry out practical nature conservation including heathland and forest management, working at a village arboretum, making interpretation boards and joining school conservation projects.

All students on the Level 3 Diploma have already completed one month’s work experience this year with leading countryside bodies like the National Trust.

Programme Leader for Countryside Siobhan Smyth said: “This experience will greatly enhance our students’ CVs as they will be engaging with conservation industries across Europe and learning the skills which employers look for. They will also learn how other cultures operate, which is only something you can learn by experience.”

Richard Laurence, 27, who hopes eventually to set up his own environmental business, said: “This is a brilliant placement where we will be using local materials and methods to aid public access to heritage sites. I’m looking forward to it very much. It’ll give me valuable experience and some real skills which I can use to take my career forward.”

If you would like to find out more about the Level 3 Diploma in Conservation and Wildlife Management as well as our other Countryside courses please visit the Countryside section on our website.

Young gardeners get the plot

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Pupils from Watermill School in Stoke on Trent have been learning horticultural skills as part of our successful Vocational Opportunities Programme for 14 to 16 year-olds.

We have worked in partnership with Watermill, which caters for pupils with needs related to cognition and learning, for around six years. It is always a pleasure to welcome these pupils on site, as they respond so positively to learning practical skills out of doors.

Many successfully gain their City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills and a few have progressed onto one of our Foundation programmes.

Said Reaseheath’s Pre-16 Learning Manager Graham Morgan: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people in their final two years at school to receive a practical, work-related experience as part of the Key Stage 4 curriculum. It’s an opportunity for them to do something different from the subjects they are offered at school and to benefit from the facilities and expertise which Reaseheath can offer.’’

A total of over 300 school pupils aged between 14 and 16 study at Reaseheath on a weekly basis on our Vocational Opportunities Programme. They can choose to study horse care, horticulture, agriculture, construction, motor vehicle, animal care, food studies or adventure sports while continuing to study for conventional GCSEs.

For more information on our courses for students aged 14-16 visit: www.reaseheath.ac.uk/14-16-students.

 

Bluebell meets her Beau!

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February is adopt a rescue rabbit month so we are encouraging owners of single rabbits to go out and find a companion for their rabbit.

Rabbits are social animals and should  be kept with a companion but unfortunately many spend their lives in solitary confinement stuck at the end of the garden in a hutch lonely, bored and ignored once the novelty of the new pet has worn off!  Rabbits are often recommended as good pets for children when in fact they are not as they can be difficult to handle and kick out with their large, powerful back legs resulting in the rabbit being dropped and injury to the animal.  Its always best to interact with your rabbit on ground level and leave the handling for important health checks, grooming, nail clipping and vet visits.

Rabbits love to snuggle together, groom each other, run and binky (a joyful leap into the air, with a twist of the body) together.  A lot of rabbits are denied these social interactions.

Rabbits are social and inquisitive animals that should have much more than a hutch to live in.  The minimum requirement  for two rabbits is a 6x2x2 hutch with an 8×4 run but garden sheds and play houses are often much better as they are much more spacious. Unfortunately many pet shops sell accommodation way too small and many rabbits become obese and  develop health problems due to lack of exercise and stimulation in these ‘prisons’.

Rescue centres are full of rabbits looking to find loving homes and rabbits from a good rescue centre will already come neutered and vaccinated. In 2012 the statistics stood at 67,000 rabbits passed through rescue in the UK.  This problem comes from the casual breeding of rabbits by owners, breeders and some pet shops.

You should never attempt to introduce two rabbits that are not neutered and the introduction should be done on neutral territory with supervision and a male/ female combination is best.  Rescue centres will normally help with the bonding process as it can be difficult.

Bluebell and Beau are a great example of two lone rabbits that have found friendship with each other.  Beau came to us from the RSPCA, he was a stray bunny who had probably been abandoned or escaped from someone’s garden.  Introducing bunnies can be a difficult process but with Bluebell and Beau it was pretty much love at first sight.  Both Bluebell and Beau were neutered before the introduction which  was done on a neutral territory as this stops the rabbits wanting to defend their own territory.  After a little bit of chasing each other round Bluebell and Beau seemed to accept each other’s company and become firm friends.  It’s great to see them snuggled up together and enjoying each other’s company.  It’s important to mention though that not all introductions go this successfully and can take a lot longer, that is why it’s important to seek advice before attempting it.

Reaseheath College supports the neutering and vaccinating of rabbits and does not support the casual breeding of rabbits. For further information about rabbit care email Emma Hunt on emmah@reaseheath.ac.uk or contact your nearest animal rescue centre