Grassroots Issue 32 by Reaseheath College

THE LATEST NEWS FROM REASEHEATH | ISSUE 32

Ensuring safety for students and staff

Flying start for Rural Crime Team

Construction skills help frontline workers

Centre for Advanced Engineering & Agri-technology opens

Welcome What an incredible period we are going through! In the past nine months we have seen a huge transformation in Further and Higher Education and Apprenticeships. Covid-19 has certainly brought challenges but Reaseheath has taken hold of the positives, adapted, harnessed digital technologies and, crucially, ensured that our students have continued to develop transferable lifelong knowledge and skills. Throughout the pandemic the creativity, innovation, dedication and passion of our staff has shone through, and their efforts have been supported by our wonderful Student Association. Our students have remained positive and tell us that they are continuing to enjoy attending college and learning in this new world. The stories in these pages reflect this. We have made every effort to keep our campus safe and functioning professionally, both by making physical changes to our facilities and by fast forwarding our digital strategy (see page 3) along with supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our students and staff. Our undergraduates, students and apprentices have continued to flourish and achieve, and to benefit from industry experiences both in person within Covid-19 guidelines and through virtual presentations (pages 9-15). And life certainly hasn’t stood still. Our Leading Edge agenda has resulted in new industry-leading facilities and innovative research projects (pages 4-7). We have shared best practice with colleagues (page 8), continued to work with employers (pages 14-19) and supported our community wherever possible (pages 20 -21).

Reaseheath ensures campus safety Increased classroom space and food outlets, heightened hygiene measures, tighter controls on movement around campus and individualised on-line learning are just some of the measures introduced to ensure campus remains safe for students and staff. Students now receive 25% of their learning online thanks to increased digital delivery, reducing the daily numbers on campus. Departmental zoning has been introduced, each with a designated ‘grab and go’ food outlet, to lessen footfall, and one way systems and wider footpaths have been installed where possible to allow for safer social distancing. Our restaurant and cafes have been renovated and extended, our Animal Centre courtyard has been covered with a canopy to provide more spacious seating and our refurbished Higher Education café has a new decked area. We have provided increased safe study areas in several zones and a major revamp has turned the Lord Woolley Centre into a social learning hub. Over 150 hand sanitising stations have been installed onsite and the campus has become cashless. Students using our transport service must wear face coverings throughout their journey and a new card identity system is in place. Special steps have been taken to ensure our Health

and Wellbeing Service is available for any student feeling vulnerable or unwell. This includes an online counselling service and drop-in clinics with an onsite registered nurse. Students who feel unwell are moved to isolation pods to await collection by a family member. Our Principal and CEO Marcus Clinton said: “Reaseheath has responded and adapted to the pandemic as the situation has progressed. Providing a safe environment is at the heart of all we do and we have invested in facilities, made changes where needed and worked tirelessly to ensure health and safety standards are at their very best. Student comments have been consistently positive and supportive. “Thanks to the fantastic efforts of our staff we are able to ensure that our students have the best learning experience possible. We continue to review our campus management plan daily, along with monitoring the national picture, and are remaining flexible to fully accommodate the college’s needs.”

The Government continues to make encouraging noises about the value of the technical and specialist skills we offer. These are the skills employers need to help the national effort to drive productivity. The forthcoming FE white paper, we hope, will translate words into positive support. I know that Reaseheath will come out the other side stronger and more resilient than ever. We will celebrate our centenary in 2021 and look forward to sharing our plans with you in our next edition. Marcus Clinton PLEASE NOTE: Some photos in this issue were taken before Covid-19

Principal and CEO Reaseheath College and University Centre

Technical Innovation

Advanced engineering and Agri-Tech centre opened One of the most sophisticated technical education centres of its type in Britain was officially opened at Reaseheath before lockdown. Our £8 million Centre for Advanced Engineering and AgriTechnology has been created specifically to deliver next generation skills in precision engineering, precision farming, service engineering and diagnostic testing. The initiative, part of a total £80 million investment across campus, was supported by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership which contributed £8.9m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund to this and other recently completed college projects. The advanced engineering centre has been created in partnership with leading agricultural engineering companies, many of which have donated top class machinery and equipment. This specialist facility is enabling lecturers to deliver technical training on the latest crop production systems and science subjects such as data mapping to agricultural engineering students. The centre was officially opened by Ed Hansom, then CEO of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, who said: “This advanced engineering centre is an excellent example of academia and industry working collaboratively to move agricultural engineering well and truly into the 21st Century. These facilities will ensure that Reaseheath’s students are fully prepared to meet the technological and engineering challenges of a rapidly changing industry.” Many of our partners demonstrated their latest models at the launch, including JCB’s World’s Fastest Tractor, giving our agricultural engineering students unrivalled access to their industry’s most progressive technology.

Technical Innovation

Vertical farming centre planned for Reaseheath The UK’s largest training and research centre for vertical farming is under construction at Reaseheath. Vertical farming is the practice of growing plants indoors under fully controlled and sterile conditions in stacked layers. It offers a means of growing safe, healthy and nutritious food locally and has been welcomed by environmentalists due to its low food miles and smaller land requirement. It also reduces reliance on food imports.

Automated milking system will provide training in digital technology A fully automated milking system is being installed on our farm to provide training in the emerging areas of digitalisation, robotics and data-driven dairy management. The new installation is the next step in our commitment to ensure agriculture students can competently harness data and digital technologies to produce sustainable food within the confines of climate change. It will also help us inform our next generation farmers about how their industry is evolving. Far from being a simple voluntary milking system for cows, the Lely Astronaut A5 system is highly integrated and incorporates a robotic milking arm with sophisticated data processing giving highly accurate readings in areas such as feed intake, milk yield and cow health. It also has automated feeding and cleaning systems. Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership supports our efforts to get young people involved in digital and STEM subjects and has contributed £656,000 to the build of the facility through its Local Growth Fund. Undergraduates at our research led university centre will use statistics from the system for a project investigating the potential of feeding biochar to cattle (see Page 7). Selected cows from our high yielding dairy herd will be introduced to the new system once it is commissioned early next year.

Reaseheath’s Vertical Farming Centre, based at our Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology, will showcase the technological innovations within this fast growing and specialised sector and will give students and businesses the opportunity for applied research and technical training. Covering 200 square metres, the main facility will consist of three floor to ceiling growing chambers while a separate research growing room will allow for micro scale testing and trialling such as the effects of different light levels, temperature and nutrient recipes on plant growth and development. Initially, high value and fast turn round crops such as microleaves and pea shoots will be grown soil-free using a hydroponic system. Sophisticated artificial lighting and climate control systems will be used to optimise plant growth. Research indicates that crop yield could be ten times higher than that grown under traditional farming methods and there is also potential to grow crops for specific nutritional and pharmaceutical benefits. The Vertical Farming Centre is due to be commissioned next February. The build, being carried out by iGrowing Ltd., East Yorkshire, has been supported by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, which has contributed £340,000 through its Local Growth Fund. This government funding is available for projects which are recognised as benefiting the local area and its economy.

Turbidity sensor will help to improve water quality A low-cost turbidity sensor is being developed by Reaseheath’s Projects, Research and Innovation team in collaboration with technology specialists FreeUP Ltd. The sensor is an integral part of the Smart Catchment concept, a new approach created at Reaseheath to monitor and map water quality in streams, rivers and watercourses. The technique uses a network of the turbidity sensors to generate and transmit real-time data to a cloud-based platform. Turbidity is a measure of water cloudiness caused by microscopic suspended particles and can indicate poor water quality. The data from the sensors is used to produce real-time turbidity maps which can be overlayed with data for weather, land use, soil type and topography, generating interactive views of the catchment. A dashboard displaying the information is accessible through any device with an internet connection and web browser and provides an early warning system to potential problems. The Smart Catchment concept will allow new ecosystem services to be designed and implemented that can reduce pollution, slow the flow of water, alleviate flooding risk and improve biodiversity and habitat. This is very relevant as the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) will require farmers and landowners to undertake environmental measures and deliver public goods in return for public money. The sensor is being trialled in the River Weaver which runs through our farm land. The trial will last around four months and be followed by the development of further features. simon.burgess@reaseheath.ac.uk www.reaseheath.ac.uk/employers/projects-research-andinnovation

Research could build a better future for our planet Reaseheath-led trials on the potential of feeding biochar to cattle and our plans for future research were presented at an event showcasing local solutions to the climate crisis. The virtual programme of speakers, including Simon Burgess, our Head of Projects, Research and Innovation, was organised by TEDxNantwich to mark the launch of ‘Countdown to Climate’, a global initiative aimed at halving greenhouse emissions by 2030. Biochar or ‘black gold’ is a charcoallike substance made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes in a controlled process called pyrolysis. Studies have shown that adding biochar to feed rations can reduce the methane a cow produces by between 6% and 15%. Simon described planned further research by our animal science undergraduates to examine biochar’s impact on milk production in dairy cattle and general cow health and longevity. The results of the trials, which will involve some of our high yielding dairy cows and weaned calves, could help in the shift towards more sustainable food and farming practices. With over 450 dairy farms in Cheshire, this type of innovation could have a marked effect on climate change and help with the county’s contribution towards national net zero targets. Industry partners in this exciting area of research include feed manufacturers and suppliers, farmers, biochar producers and the dairy industry. Watch at m.youtube. com/watch

Best Practice Maths best practice shared at national festival Lecturer in maths James Maloney shared best practice with peers at a national maths festival delivered by the Advanced Maths Support Programme. The virtual Core Maths Festival covered a wide range of mathematical topics and resources. James attended to gain ideas and inspiration in preparation for our awarding body switch from OCR to AQA. As one of the presenters for the festival finale, James talked about lesson structure and described how we successfully modified the 5Rs framework used in GCSE for Level 3 Core Maths. This framework gives students the confidence to ‘have a go’ at problem solving and is more applicable to the new way of thinking that core maths involves. James also described how we change the context of the set task to reflect our students’ area of study. We deliver Core Maths in the main to Animal Management and Equine Science Technical Baccalaureate students plus some agriculture, engineering and countryside students, so use animals, crops and real-world financial examples for contextualisation. Most delegates taught in general FE colleges or schools so were interested in our approach. See James’ presentation: https://padlet.com/catherine_ vansaarloos/FestivalFinale

News from University Centre Reaseheath Wellbeing practice published

Undergraduate reaches top two in prestigious competition

Sound advice on dealing with Covid stress, written by former Head of Wellbeing, Careers and Pastoral Support, Nicola McCleave, has been published by the Department of Education. In a blog which shares best practice throughout the teaching community, Nic describes how students and staff have received highly professional wellbeing advice, guidance and support throughout the pandemic, ensuring that their Reaseheath Experience continues to be outstanding.

Measures to overcome anxiety about returning to the workplace, the individual risk assessments which were put in place and our online Mental Health and Wellbeing Resource are also described, along with the proactive work of our Covid-19 steering group, which meets daily.

Outlining the many ways that Reaseheath has risen to the Covid-19 challenge, she commends how our staff adapted quickly and professionally to distance working and were able to remain connected thanks to daily updates from our principal.

Although primarily for teachers, Nic’s blog also offers support to governors, parents and education professionals. teaching.blog.gov.uk/2020/10/09/ navigating-staff-wellbeing-how-weresupporting-each-other/

Self care initiative benefits all Our students and staff can look forward to a healthier future after Reaseheath became the first land based college to successfully achieve its Silver Self Care Award. The award is part of an enterprising programme by NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group to spread the benefits of self care throughout its local communities. The initiative rolls out key messages using specially trained Self Care Champions and particularly targets young people. Reaseheath’s Student Services and Wellbeing teams, along with our Student Association, Student Life and Freshers Crews, have co-ordinated a

campus-wide network of support promoting personal physical and mental health. Student and staff Self Care Champions run workshops which new students, many of whom are under 18 and living away from home for the first time, find particularly beneficial. We also offer many Covid-safe social and physical activities, communicate these across college, and support the national Self Care campaign.

Visiting professionals help undergraduates make right career choices Visiting professionals have helped equine science undergraduates make the right career choices by sharing their knowledge and experience. A presentation on the value of British Horse Society (BHS) qualifications, a dressage demonstration and a visit from an equine physiotherapist have been among inspiring extra curriculum activities held at our Equestrian Centre. Sally White, a BHS Intermediate Instructor and BHS Accredited Professional Coach, described BHS qualifications and the required elements for riding and stable management. These are particularly useful for the career progression of yard managers, professional riders and coaches and are well recognised by animal welfare charities and the mounted police. A dressage demonstration by Helen Hopewell, BHS Assistant Instructor and Senior Rider Representative for British Dressage Wales, was aimed at undergraduates considering working

on a competitive yard, those wanting to school and compete or those thinking of becoming dressage trainers or judges. Helen and her advanced medium horse Frankie demonstrated the requirements of dressage tests at different levels and gave an insight into the criteria used by judges. A third event, much appreciated by undergraduates considering careers in veterinary science, equine sports performance and horse welfare, was a demonstration by Performance Physiotherapist Amy Shakeshaft. Amy pointed out the locations of superficial and deep muscles which commonly cause tightness in sports horses. Roger, an event horse owned by Higher Education Lecturer and Course Manager Toni Williams, who organised the events, was demo ‘model’.

Graduate to help shape the future of Chester Zoo

Olivia, who completed her Foundation Degree in Agriculture with Dairy Herd Management this summer, received the award at Dairy–Tech, an industry-leading dairy event for next generation dairy farmers, managers and technicians. Before the award was announced she and fellow finalist Florence Turley from Harper Adams University went on stage to interview prominent Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig and joined a panel discussion about the challenges and opportunities awaiting young people in the dairy industry. Olivia, who was nominated by her course managers, was selected as a finalist after standing out at the semi-final, held at The Farmers Club in London. This asked for a presentation on the future of the dairy industry in front of an industry panel and Olivia was commended for her innovative ideas and wellrounded arguments. Olivia hopes to join a graduate programme or to teach inner city pupils about agriculture and rural life. She progressed onto her degree after completing our Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture.

BSc Zoo Management graduate Felix Rowan-Young has been appointed Vice Chair of Chester Zoo’s new Youth Board.

Olivia (right) and Florence celebrate their RABDF awards

Working with the Board of Trustees and executive team, Felix and fellow board members will help shape the future direction of the world famous zoo and further develop its appeal to teenagers and young adults.

Curriculum Area Manager Yvette FouldsDavis and was selected from a total of 100 applicants.

In particular they will help to create exciting programmes which will encourage 18-25 year olds to engage with wildlife and support the zoo’s mission to prevent extinction.

Chester Zoo’s CEO Dr Mark Pilgrim commented: “We’re excited to launch the first ever UK zoo-based Youth Board. It’s a real step forward in engaging with the leaders of tomorrow. Working with vibrant and dedicated young people is vital because they will be the ones to decide on the future of conservation.”

Felix, who completed his degree this summer, was encouraged to apply for the prestigious position by Animal Science

Agriculture undergraduate Olivia Edgerton was crowned runner-up in the prestigious Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) 2020 ‘Dairy Student of the Year’ competition.

He plans to become a school or zoo educator and has begun a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

News from University Centre Reaseheath

Focus on Future Education

Undergraduate monitors animals during zoo reopening Watch at bit.ly/UCRgwrych-project

Historic beach house project at the home of ‘I’m a Celebrity’ BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture undergraduates have begun a unique heritage project to help restore the grounds of a historic beach house in North Wales. ‘Ty Crwn’ lies 50 metres from Abergele’s shoreline and is on the estate of nearby Gwrych Castle, current location for ITV’s reality series ‘I’m a Celebrity – Get me Out of Here!’ The project follows two years of research which Landscape Architecture undergraduates carried out in the grounds of the castle itself. Ty Crwn has recently been restored and our undergraduates have been asked to produce planting proposals for its unusual coastal environment. As the nearby beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Foundation Degree in Environmental Science for Conservation undergraduates have been surveying its plants and animals.

Gwrych Castle is a Grade I listed country house which was purchased by Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust on behalf of the nation and is now undergoing an ambitious 30 year restoration plan. As part of their Conservation Management module, our Landscape Architecture undergraduates previously studied terraces, turrets and lost pathways in the castle grounds to identify features of interest and determine their significance. The Conservation Management Plans which they produced are being used by the trust to aid and direct ongoing restoration and management. This is a great example of the industry-based opportunities we offer our students.

Newt and toad surveys may help future populations Animal Science undergraduates have been surveying our great crested newts so we can better plan for their future management. Working alongside licensed staff, the undergraduates set up and monitored traps and completed torchlight surveys and egg searches. By using capture-mark-recapture techniques, they were able to identify individuals and accurately estimate the size and health of our campus population. Great crested newts are a species of conservation concern in the UK, are a European Protected Species and receive high levels of legal protection. Our undergraduates also applied their scientific skills to help researchers to better understand a nationwide decline in the common toad population.

Under supervision, they caught our resident toads during migration to their spawning grounds and took DNA swabs from their inner mouths. The swabs were preserved and sent to PhD students at the University of Wolverhampton for further analysis. It is hoped that the results will help unveil genetic trends which could be responsible for the decline.

Undergraduate Gemma Jones used her research skills to monitor how animals were adjusting to a zoo reopening. Gemma, a Foundation Degree in Zoo Management student, was one of just two volunteers invited to rejoin staff at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis in Cumbria as restrictions eased after lockdown. The zoo is home to more than 100 species, some of which are critically endangered. Drawing on her skills in a comparatively new area of research, Gemma designed ethograms which she used to log behavioural observations on snow leopards, curassows, cotton top tamarins, black capped lorikeets, wallabies and lemurs. She then compared her lockdown data with studies taken once visitors had returned, using the results to alert keepers to changes in behaviour and enabling them to adjust the animals’ management. Gemma created the ethograms using criteria such as the time individuals spent eating, grooming and resting. She also prepared instructions and made diagrams identifying each animal so other volunteers could continue the research. Centre Manager Jack Williams, himself a Reaseheath graduate, said: “Gemma’s research has enabled us to maintain our animal husbandry to the highest standards. The welfare of our animals is extremely important and it was very helpful to monitor how our collection was readjusting to the busier atmosphere.”

Royal approval for ‘Bug’ingham Palace Animal Management students received royal approval after they built a palatial home for insects.

PiCUS masterclass focuses on tree safety technology Cutting edge technology which detects decay in trees has been demonstrated on campus to forestry and arboriculture students and to professional arborists. The masterclass, hosted by Sorbus International, was aimed at current and future users of the PiCUS sonic tomography systems. The non-invasive systems measure the speed of sound waves as they pass through tree trunks and produce images of decay and defects which often cannot be seen externally. Tomography systems are widely used by local authorities, consultants and contractors to assess the condition of trees, particularly those which are easily accessible to the public. Sorbus International is a big supporter of Reaseheath and visits annually to demonstrate the technically advanced systems to arboriculture, forestry and countryside management students as well as updating them on innovations within the industry.

The students modelled ‘Bug’ingham Palace’ on the Queen’s London residence and built it from packing cases, wood offcuts, chicken wire, branches and foliage from native trees. Photos of the project plus covering letters were sent to the households of Her Majesty and HRH Prince Charles and the students were delighted

to receive replies on behalf of both royals, thanking them for their efforts to help conserve local bugs, bees and beetles. The impressive building is part of the native species habitat in Reaseheath’s mini zoo and sits alongside a wildlife pond, natural grassland and wild flower area.

Disease threat is current topic for arboriculture students The global spread of plant disease and its devastating impact on the tree care industry was the very current topic of an interactive presentation delivered to Forestry and Arboriculture students by members of the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Forestry Team. Tree Health Officer Barnaby Wylder and Biosecurity Outreach Officer Becki Gawthorpe covered topics on tree health and biosecurity during an informative session attended by over 30 students. Concern about the increase and spread in pests and diseases due to factors such as rising temperatures and increasing global trade and travel were underlined, particularly the potential threat from Xylella fastidiosa. This bacterial disease, widely established in Europe, causes significant damage to parkland and

commercial trees so could have both landscape and economic implications. After looking at examples of signs and symptoms of ill health in trees, our students were urged to support the Forestry Commission’s scientific research by reporting any suspicions to www.forestresearch.gov.uk/ treealert The Forestry Commission is among a number of partners who regularly support our programmes with educational presentations and discussions.

Sorbus International Director Phil Wade led a classroom session looking at interpretation of data and tree care while Technical Support Manager Mark Vestey demonstrated the practical use of the technology on mature trees in our grounds.

Focus on Further Education

Florist blooms in WorldSkills UK

Life changing experiences await engineering students Over 100 of our agricultural engineering students had their eyes opened to exciting opportunities abroad, thanks to our links with one of the USA’s flagship universities. John Beardmore, Programme Co-ordinator for the Ohio State University’s International Agricultural and Horticultural Internship Programme, outlined the once-in-alifetime experiences on offer during a pre-covid presentation on campus. Aimed at ambitious, career focused students, the programme offers placements for up to 12 months with progressive US companies in areas including Agriculture, Horticulture and Landscaping, Floristry, Sports Turf, Enology, Equine, Food Processing and Applied Research. Former Reaseheath internees have described their experiences as ‘lifechanging’ and a superb addition to their CVs. Typical placements are on an arable farm or following the wheat harvest from North Texas to the Canadian border with a mobile harvesting team. Both options involve large-scale cultivating, planting and harvesting using some of the most technologically advanced machinery in the world. Agricultural Engineering Instructor Graeme Smith, who organised the presentation, was an Ohio State intern himself. Watch at www.youtube.com/ theohioprogram

Arena party helps to run British Eventing competitions at Kelsall Hill Our student arena party helped to run several British Eventing competitions at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre as the sport resumed its competition schedule behind closed doors.

Engineer is construction plant `star’ A talented Reaseheath trained engineer has carried off two top awards in a competition aimed at finding the nation’s best construction plant apprentices. Alisha Giles was national runner-up in the Level 2 Plant Mechanic of the Year category in the prestigious Construction Plant-hire Association’s (CPA) Stars of the Future Awards. She had earlier won the regional title and went head to head against seven winners from other colleges in the national finals. The competition is an annual highlight for the construction plant industry and showcases the talent of future leaders within the sector. There were 70 very strong entries throughout the categories and judges were extremely impressed with the standard of entries. An apprentice construction plant fitter with the GAP Group, Alisha is based

in Brighton and attends Reaseheath Engineering for off-the-job training. She has now completed her Level 2 apprenticeship and progressed onto her Level 3 apprenticeship, alongside which she is studying for a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Once qualified she hopes to become a workshop foreman and eventually a chief engineer. Seven other Reaseheath trained apprentices were put forward for the awards, with Joshua Foord (Sunbelt Rentals) receiving Highly Commended at Level 2 and Sam Jones (Ridgway Rentals) awarded Regional Winner at Level 3.

Florists gain overview of dynamic industry Our florists gained an overview of their dynamic industry during study tours of influential floristry businesses. Level 2 Diploma students enjoyed an informative visit to Manchester wholesalers Country Baskets, where they looked at stock ranging from flowers and accessories to tools and equipment, and studied display lay-out. They were also introduced to pricing and VAT and used the experience to think about their future careers.

for same day delivery and collection. They also explored the latest range of containers and accessories. These visits followed strict rules for social distancing and hygiene, both during travel and within the stores.

As well as their duties in the practice and showjumping arenas, our students benefited from a course walk round the imposing cross country fences with Reaseheath’s Assistant Events Organiser Ben Read, who competes in eventing. Thanking our students, Director Phil Latham said: “When we host British Eventing competitions we need a minimum of 40 contractors and 120 volunteers and we feel really lucky that we’re able to take advantage of our

relationship with Reaseheath’s equine department. The student arena party provides invaluable help by running the practice and show jumping arenas and supporting our competitors. They are a fantastic help to our centre.” Level 3 Diploma in Equine Science student Kayleigh Blissett said: “I always look forward to attending events as a member of the arena party. It’s a good opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes at a big event and gives us the chance to meet officials and judges.”

Equine students learn from national course builder Equine students keen to join our well established and industry valued arena parties picked up top tips from national show jumping course designer Sue Barratt. Sue, a very experienced British Showjumping Level 5 (Advanced) course designer and Level 2 judge, gave a series of masterclasses to over 90 diploma students and apprentices when she visited our Equestrian Centre. Explaining the role of the arena party, she listed the different types of show jumping competitions and the specialist classes put on at major shows such as the puissance. She also described the types of fences, heights and distances which would be applied depending on the class level, and she advised on how to provide a visually attractive

Floristry student Lisa Whatmough had a brilliant start to her new career by being placed third and congratulated on her beautiful design in a WorldSkills UK competition. Lisa, who has studied floristry for two years, charmed judges with her interpretation of a bridesmaid’s wired posy of fresh flowers to follow a lilac theme. She took third place out of 21 entries and won a floral design book by world famous designer Gregor Lersh along with a certificate of recognition. The competition should have been a regional qualifying round for WorldSkills UK 2020 but was held as an individual competition on-line after the rest of the contest was cancelled due to Covid-19. Lisa’s success was particularly impressive as this was her first competition and she and fellow students had completed their wedding unit during lock-down. She now hopes to use her new skills to widen her opportunities in a career which has previously involved hospitality, customer service and business administration.

layout combining the necessary safety elements while delivering first rate audience entertainment. Reaseheath’s arena party supports course designers at elite events such as the Horse of the Year Show and Bolesworth International and at horse trials including Kelsall Hill and Somerford Park. These opportunities allow students to gain experience of event management at the highest level and to network with influential individuals and organisations. Sadly many events were cancelled this year, but we are looking forward to the 2021 season.

The group moved on to Bents Garden Centre in Warrington, a leading retail home and garden centre renowned for its display techniques, so our students were able to appreciate product journey from start to finish.

Level 3 Diploma students enjoyed visits to Van Vliet, a flower wholesaler in Stokeon-Trent, to see how fresh flowers are imported from Holland and elsewhere

Reaseheath Business Hub

Apprenticeships

Helping post Covid rebuild Reaseheath’s Business Hub offers a raft of industry recognised, landbased qualifications to help businesses and individuals rebuild after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Supporting business growth Reaseheath’s Business Hub is supporting the local economy by helping to deliver the Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth programme. Working in partnership with The University of Chester and Manchester Metropolitan University, our business advisors can source fully funded support for local pre-start businesses, start-up businesses (trading less than 42 months) and small and medium sized enterprises (trading over 42 months). The programme offers 1:1 support, business planning, start-up advice, marketing and funding and is available through on-line application followed by telephone and video meetings. Companies which have made the most of this support package include a food flavourings company which was facing a drop in business due to Covid-19 and is now developing a hand sanitising product range. Farm diversification is another area which can benefit greatly from the programme, from advice on successional planning to the practical setting up of alternative on-farm enterprises.

We deliver a portfolio of sector-specific vocational qualifications from awarding bodies such as City & Guilds and the Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB). These qualifications are designed to reflect the needs of industry and to be relevant to employers. Offered across a range of levels, many deliver the specialist skills required for a Certificate of Competence, often a regulatory requirement for a Licence to Practice in a particular industry.

to applied research, innovation and knowledge transfer services are also available through Reaseheath’s University Centre, and our high-quality facilities can be used for bespoke professional training, trials and product development. www.reaseheathbusinesshub.com/ professional-training

We aim to support all rural businesses, from large to niche, and where possible we tailor out training to suit. Businesses can use our courses to develop their workforce’s skills to a higher standard, and they are also accessible to individuals. Current qualifications include chainsaw operation, tractor driving, telescopic handling and forklift truck handling, and we are constantly expanding our range.

Reaseheath’s Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Jason Edwards, a Level 2 butchery apprentice, went on to record two more notable achievements on top of his college award.

The achievements of apprentices who completed their programmes with us in the last academic year were highlighted at an annual awards ceremony held before lockdown. Free range egg producer Aaron Sands, a Level 3 agricultural apprentice employed by Paces Farm Eggs, was crowned Advanced Apprentice of the Year. Despite having no previous experience in agriculture, Aaron has acquired such a high level of skills, knowledge and confidence that he now manages Pace’s poultry flock with duties which include carrying out blood

tests and checking water quality. Employer Steven Pace commented: “Reaseheath’s training has equipped Aaron with the knowledge, skills and confidence to fulfil his professional role. Having a keen apprentice has been a great help to our business, as we’ve been able to match our exact needs with the training programme.”

Projects devised by apprentice dairy technologists on our unique Eden programme have resulted in efficiency and cost savings of a projected £6.838m across four businesses.

Ofsted praise for industry skills Reaseheath is one of the country’s leading apprentice trainers and, along with Dart Training, offers a wide range of land based apprenticeships which include standards and frameworks designed by employers.

The inspectors were impressed by our continuing development of partnerships with regional, national and international businesses, allowing apprentices and students to access sophisticated

WorldSkills UK medal for Jason

Eden programme saves employers £millions

Our Business Hub also offers accredited courses such as functional skills, essential digital skills and Continued Professional Development. Access

We have earned praise from Ofsted inspectors for the way we deliver industry specific skills to our apprentices and full time students. Awarding us ‘Good’, our latest Ofsted report emphasises our high quality practical facilities and ambitious, enthusiastic and experienced teaching staff.

Aaron is Advanced Apprentice of the Year

technical equipment. Also highlighted was that our learners develop complex skills and knowledge above the requirements of their qualification – an asset much valued by employers.

The Eden education initiative, which is supported by leading companies in the dairy industry and by the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink, delivers degree level apprenticeship (Levels 4 and 5). The partnership works together to provide qualified dairy technologists to meet the demands of an expanding global industry. Companies such as

Arla, Muller, Saputo, Glanbia and Wyke Farms collectively invest over £1million annually into the development of their trainees on the programme. The savings have been made over the last five years thanks to studies which the apprentices have carried out as part of their Reaseheath programme and which have been implemented in the workplace.

Jason was a bronze medal winner in the national butchery finals at WorldSkills UK LIVE, the nation’s largest skills and careers event. He impressed industry experts so much that he was selected to represent Team GB at the World Butchers’ Challenge in California in September 2020 and was preparing for further training from industry experts including our own Master Butcher when the competition was postponed due to Covid-19. Hopefully it will go ahead in 2021, but in the meantime Jason plans to progress onto his FDQ Level 3 Diploma in Professional Butchery with us and will continue to expand his craft and management skills. Fifth generation butchery apprentice Lizzie James also qualified for the national butchery finals at WorldSkills UK LIVE, while joiner Harry HiscoeJames and garden landscaper Eliot Johnson represented Reaseheath in their sections.

Our employer partners tell us that employing an apprentice has delivered numerous benefits including greater productivity, improved profitability and a clear return on investment. Learn more at www.reaseheath. ac.uk/apprenticeships

Thanks to our industry standard facilities, we can also support commercial trials for our partners. www.reaseheath.ac.uk/ employers/business-growthprogramme

Apprenticeships

Industry News Sports Centre benefits Altrincham FC

Tetra Pak international partnership Multi-national engineers, technical operators and managers from global processing and food packaging specialist Tetra Pak continue to receive bespoke training in our industry standard dairy processing halls. Professionals from many different countries study dairy science and its practical application during short programmes which we have delivered exclusively for Tetra Pak for over 40 years – proof that the company appreciates our expertise, facilities and reputation for effectively delivering training. Although Tetra Pak offers many opportunities for specific in-house training, our programmes deliver a more general understanding of dairy processing. Wai Hon Chin, a Cluster System Issue Manager (Asia and the Pacific), who has worked for Tetra Pak for 18 years, explained: “The practical sessions on making cheese, butter and ice cream and looking at UHT processing, pasteurisation, evaporating and drying are particularly beneficial, as many of us have little chance to get ‘hands on’. Coming together at Reaseheath also gives staff from different countries and job roles the chance to mix and learn from each other.” Tetra Pak is a main machinery supplier to our Food Centre and provides after sales service and training. For further details of how our Food Centre training can help businesses see www.reaseheathfoodcentre.co.uk

Training at our brilliant sports performance centre has enabled Altrincham Football Club to continue its meteoric climb to the elite level of non-league football.

HSS Hire apprentices begin journey The third cohort of apprentice engineering fitters from HSS Hire have begun their apprenticeship journey with us. The company is a leading supplier of tools and equipment for hire with a reputation for delivering reliable and safe equipment on time to site. It provides customers with equipment ranging from generators and power diggers to lawn mowers and high powered saws via a nationwide network. The apprentices are based at regional servicing and repair workshops and need a broad range of engineering skills which they can deliver with speed, accuracy and to a high standard. Although the apprentices typically work with specific products, our programme

introduces them to a wider range of light and heavy plant systems including electric and diesel. They complete their three years of block training as highly qualified Level 3 Land Based Service Engineers (Construction Plant Standards). Managing Director of Operations Miguel Vicos says: “To maintain our service to the highest standards we need a reliable source of well trained and committed engineers. Reaseheath’s apprenticeship programme offers a good career path which improves staff recruitment and retention. This gives us the confidence to grow our company.”

Apprenticeship could benefit wider industry A bespoke apprenticeship delivered for leading tomato supplier the APS Group has proved so successful that the company believes it could benefit the wider commercial growing industry. The APS Group, which has a national network including two local sites, partnered Reaseheath in planning a bespoke Level 3 Apprenticeship for Crop Technicians to offer a career route for talented employees. The block release training programme is in its third year and has worked so well that APS is keen to engage with other growers to make it applicable across the industry.

“It has delivered an in-depth knowledge to our crop workers, who now have the ability to develop and progress. Reaseheath has had the foresight to invest in glasshouses and equipment which mirror the commercial environment and has experienced staff to deliver the training. This has paid dividends and is the reason we are here. No-one else has comparable facilities.”

Rural Crime Team conference

Cheshire Constabulary’s specialist Rural Crime Team made the most of our training facilities during a two day conference which brought together 40 police officers and associates from across the region. The team was set up in 2019 to protect our communities from rural and wildlife crime and bring criminals who target these areas to justice. Typical offences involve farms and agriculture, wildlife, the environment, heritage sites and public protection issues such as modern slavery.

To build on their practical skills and understanding of animal behaviour, delegates practised safe handling and restraint with livestock on our farm and horses at our equine centre. They also enjoyed sessions with birds of prey at our animal centre which included the chance to fly our barn owl, Hilda.

This is the first time that Cheshire Constabulary has set up a unit specifically dedicated to supporting rural communities, although it has employed trained rural and wildlife crime officers for some time.

Industry specialists who gave presentations included our Farm Manager Ed Parrish, who spoke on bio-security, and representatives of the RSPCA, RSPB, the Environment Agency and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Industry accolade for Food Centre Our food processing halls team has again achieved the highest standards of food safety and hygiene within a food production facility. Following a rigorous audit against the new British Retail Consortium Global Standard (BRCGS) Version 8, the team has been awarded the prestigious Grade AA standard for a second consecutive year. This is the highest possible benchmark for best practice in food manufacture

and proves that our Food Centre operates under highly controlled conditions and at the highest industry standards. The updated BRC Version 8 includes new clauses on food safety culture and site security, with our team achieving the highest level of compliance.

Since the semi-professional football club began using our professional facilities three years ago, they have been promoted twice and now play at Step 1, the elite level of non-league football in the Vanarama National League. The club’s first team uses our sports science laboratory, sports hall, and all-weather AstroTurf pitch for preseason testing and for occasional midweek training. Players also use our high spec physiotherapy unit to rehabilitate and maintain fitness and the classrooms for game analysis when preparing for a fixture. First team manager Phil Parkinson, who is also a Public Services and Sports Lecturer at Reaseheath, says: “The excellent facilities allow us to prepare as thoroughly as possible for games. This massively helps our players to continue performing at the elite level of non-league football.” First team members from Crewe Alexandra FC and elite athletes from a range of sports also use our facilities. Students can apply to join our Crewe Alexandra Football Education Academy, which offers the chance to play football regularly while studying for a diploma in sport.

APS Group Safety Health and Environment Manager Gary Swayne, who oversees the apprenticeship, says: “I am a personal beneficiary of lifelong learning and I believe that this programme offers a way for the commercial horticultural industry to thrive and grow.

Industry News

SYNETIQ partnership benefits Motor Vehicle students

Farm Forum encourages timely discussion The future of the food and farming industries post Brexit, whether a degree or a job leads to better career prospects and the growth of veganism and its impact on agriculture were just three topics covered in our insightful Farm Forum. Level 3 Diploma in Agriculture students and undergraduates from University Centre Reaseheath were actively involved in informative and varied discussions with a panel of experienced advisors from across the supply chain. The annual event, sponsored by the Food, Drink & Agricultural Group of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Cheshire branch of the Institute of Agricultural Management, delivered valuable advice on opportunities available and how to build a successful career. The speakers were John Giles (Chair of CIM’s Food, Drink and Agricultural Group and Divisional Director, Promar International); Emma Main (Consultant, Promar International Sustainability Team); James Yeomans (Farm Manager, Grasslands UK); Jonny Hewitt (Managing Director, Frozen Mountain Ltd); David Hall (Regional Director NFU North West) and Mark Beavon (Dairy Industry Operations Ltd). All agreed that both the UK and international markets continue to offer many opportunities and that agri-technology is very much the key to success.

Parlour Safe professionals graduate The fourth cohort of specialist engineers and allied professionals from the milking parlour industry graduated just before lockdown with a qualification from Parlour Safe, the Milking Equipment Association’s (MEA) industry training scheme.

Helping military veterans find next career path

The bespoke Category 3 (Advanced) course is accredited by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) in recognition of its professional quality and high standard of training.

The 22nd cohort of military veterans graduated from our groundbreaking property maintenance course at a socially distanced ceremony attended by the Mayor of Nantwich, Councillor Pam Kirkham.

Reaseheath has worked closely with the MEA to create this modular course, which offers practical and technical training on parlour management, from dynamic testing and cow welfare to health and safety and building design. Those holding Category 3 and above are recognised for their standard of technical excellence, can join IAgrE and can register as engineering technicians with the Engineering Council. Although currently voluntary, it is likely that in future all technicians will be required to

achieve accreditation and demand for the training is rising nationally. MEA Chairman John Baines confirmed that the training scheme was recognised as a benchmark throughout the industry and had received positive support from organisations which spearhead industry standards through schemes such as the Red Tractor and National Dairy Farm Assurance. The course attracts professionals from leading milking parlour manufacturers including DeLaval, Fullwood, GEA UK, Lely and BouMatic, plus individuals such as dairy vets. For more information: www.reaseheath.ac.uk/parloursafe

Equine vet helps undergraduates keep on track Final year equine science undergraduates praised a specialist vet for helping them keep on track with their studies. Campbell Thompson, a partner at Nantwich Equine Vets LLP, switched to on-line delivery as soon as our university centre moved to distance learning during lockdown. Within hours of the changeover Campbell, who specialises in sport horse performance, delivered a lecture on diagnostic imaging techniques to replace a study trip to the practice’s high tech veterinary centre. BSc (Hons) Equine Science students joined the session from home, viewed x-ray images and shared virtual chat with their tutor and peers. Feedback was excellent and the sessions have continued.

Our motor vehicle technicians are learning their trade on the latest road cars thanks to the generosity of salvage and vehicle recycling company SYNETIQ.

Our University Centre has a well established relationship with Nantwich Equine Vets and some students complete work placements there. In addition our Centre for Veterinary Nursing works in partnership with over 70 training veterinary practices and currently trains 120 diploma students and apprentices. We also offer a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Nursing (subject to validation).

The service leavers gain practical skills in bricklaying, plastering, wall tiling, decorating, joinery and plumbing leading to a Level 1 Diploma in Multi Skills delivered by our construction department. Successful learners are also awarded a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety which allows them to apply for their CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, a requirement to work in the building industry. The training is delivered in partnership with armed forces training charity Building Heroes. Reaseheath was the second college in the country

to offer this course and has trained around 230 veterans from a variety of military backgrounds, with over 90 per cent going into employment, self employment or further training in the construction trades. Describing the scheme as ‘very successful and extremely rewarding’, Head of Construction Andy Gould emphasised that there was high demand for trained professionals within the construction industry and that the veterans were recognised for the skills they had already acquired through service and for their excellent attitude and commitment to work.

Could T LEVELS be for you? In addition to our exciting Diplomas, Tech Baccs and Apprenticeships, from September 2022 we’ll be offering T Levels in On-Site Construction (joinery, brickwork or plastering), Engineering and Manufacturing (maintenance, installation and repair) and Business and Administration.

SYNETIQ was formed following a successful merger of local company Car Transplants with three other vehicle processing businesses and provides a national service for leading Insurers, company fleets and police forces. We had a long standing partnership with Car Transplants and SYNETIQ has continued to loan us a range of current models and static engines. Our latest student intake are developing their skills by working on the vehicles in our automative workshop, which has ten vehicle ramps, modern diagnostic equipment and a simulated MOT standard test lane. Motor Vehicle Programme Leader Simon Bishop said: “We were delighted to receive the latest delivery of cars and static engines from SYNETIQ. By introducing our students to current technology and systems we are able to give them relevant skills which prepare them for the world of work.” Director at SYNETIQ Mark Schofield, said: “We actively support Reaseheath’s motor vehicle department because the next generation of motor vehicle technicians are the future life blood of our industry.”

These new qualifications for 16-18 year-olds have a technical focus (hence the name!) and are an alternative to A Levels and equivalent academic courses. They offer a mix of classroom learning and ‘onthe-job’ training which includes a substantial industry placement of at least 315 hours plus maths, English and digital skills. Interested? Contact our course advisers on 01270 613224

Communities

RAG fund raising continues Our students enjoyed spooktacular fun while raising funds for our fantastic RAG (Raising and Giving) charity Make-A-Wish UK. A sponsored dress up day, a social evening packed with games, a themed quiz and a scary film night were all part of great Halloween activities, held under controlled and heightened hygiene measures.

Animal management students help others Writing postcards for care home residents, celebrating the role of animals in war and taking part in a virtual global tea party have been some of the good deeds carried out by first year Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management students as part of their ‘Classroom Kindness’ Challenge. Throughout lockdown they continued to help others through monthly events which raised nearly £800 for our RAG charity Make-A-Wish UK and other appeals. They also joined students within the department and across college in brightening the day for members of our local community through their thoughtful messages and actions. One initiative involved writing postcards describing our zoo and animals for residents in care homes across the North West. The students made sure local Barony Lodge Residential Care was included and Advanced Practitioner Holly Hardy Johnson and Course Manager Lucy Cosgriff delivered the postcards. Other projects have included co-ordinating a college charity shoe box appeal, organising a quiz, collecting food and toys for a local RSPCA cattery and a dogs’ trust, raising funds for animals affected by Australian wild fires, joining a world record on-line tea party attempt by Guide Dogs for the Blind and wearing blue to celebrate the life-changing wishes granted by Make-AWish UK.

Make-A-Wish UK is a children’s charity which helps to grant lifechanging wishes to children with critical illnesses. Our Student Association (SA) nominated it as their charity for the 2019 -20 academic year and this has been extended into 2020 -21 due to Covid-19’s impact on fundraising activities.

Construction skills help frontline workers

SA members had already handed over nearly £3,000 to the charity and continued to fund raise throughout lockdown, in particular by organising a virtual RAG Week which raised £498 through donations for some very original challenges!

Head of Construction Andy Gould has made a difference to the working lives of frontline NHS staff by producing attachments which make surgical facemasks more comfortable to wear.

Congratulations to the SA team who set out to cover the length of England from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in a week (874 miles/1,407 km) through sponsored walking in their local parks and who collectively recorded 1,590 km, and to construction students and staff who raised £1009 by making and selling garden planters. Hats off also to Luke Holmes, a Level 2 Diploma in Agriculture student, who completed his first ever sky dive and raised £275 for RAG! bit.ly/reaseheath-lockdown

Andy programmed his department’s 3D printer to make adjustable plastic clips which fit round the back of the head and have fixings for the elastic loops of the face mask. The design takes the pressure away from the back of the wearer’s ears while continuing to hold the mask securely. Hundreds of the clips have been distributed to health professionals across Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire and Andy is still receiving requests. He’s also found that

they’re ideal for students and staff who wear hearing aids. The 3D printer is used to demonstrate design work and plays a central role in our new Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, which launched this September. We also offered some campus accommodation to Cheshire Police and NHS professionals while the college was closed so that frontline staff could continue to work without putting their families at risk.

Pupils celebrate World Food Day Malbank School pupils put their classroom lessons into context during a pre-Covid visit to celebrate World Food Day. Year 9 and Year 10 pupils studying sustainability and environmental issues for their GCSE in Food Technology made soup in our Food Centre and toured our dairy processing halls and other industry standard facilities. They also took part in discussions and practical activities based on the World Food Day theme, which aims to address global food poverty by providing nutritional, affordable and sustainable food. The sessions, delivered by our experts and partners, covered topics including nutrition, food waste reduction, sustainable packaging, correct food labelling and how individuals could lessen their own environmental impact.

Land girl training recalled for VE Day We revisited our links with World War II during a virtual celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day. Photos from our archives recalled the outbreak of war in 1939 when Reaseheath, then named the Cheshire School of Agriculture, closed its doors to students and became a training centre for the Women’s Land Army and the base for the War Agricultural Committee. At that time raw recruits for the Women’s Land Army received four weeks of training in the skills needed to produce essential food supplies. They came to Reaseheath from throughout the UK to learn about market gardening, how to milk cows and how to grow and harvest field crops and animal fodder. These town dwellers were found jobs on farms throughout Cheshire and beyond, joining country girls who were usually placed immediately. The area of land used for crop growing in Britain increased by 50% during the war. The work done by women such as those trained at Reaseheath proved that they were capable of performing tasks that had traditionally been men’s work. This contributed towards improving women’s position in society.

Do you have any Reaseheath reminiscences? We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2021. Please get in touch alumni@reaseheath.ac.uk

Alumni News Adi Thomas Level 3 Diploma in Floristry 2011 Contemporary florist and businessman Adi Thomas has continued to successfully operate award winning Verdure Floral Design despite the impact of Covid-19. The web based business, which has a UK-wide reputation for outstanding wedding and corporate event flowers, has seen demand for bouquets quadruple during the pandemic. The welcome surge has helped to offset turnover lost through cancellation of weddings and events. To meet demand, business owner Adi and fellow directors have increased their creative and delivery teams and now employ ten professional florists on a split shift system. Verdure Floral Design last year provided displays for 300 weddings and prestigious events, including a celebrity wedding at Lake Como in Italy. More recently, following the easing of restrictions, was a wedding at the Savoy Hotel in London. Adi is a regular exhibitor and award winner at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Last year he took a gold medal for his Fantastic Flower Bower and the previous year was awarded Best Exhibit in the Flower School plus a gold medal for ‘Dreams of India’, a display featuring a stunning elephant decorated with thousands of flower heads.

Reaseheath at a glance... n SUBJECT AREAS

Further and Higher Education and Apprenticeships

Jane Bingham and Penny Hearn Garden design 2014 - 2015

Michelle Hackett BSc (Hons) Equine Science 2016

RHS Levels 2 and 3 in Pratical Horticulture 2015 – 2017 Reaseheath trained garden designers Jane Bingham and Penny Hearn have continued to achieve high level success designing and building show gardens. Jane runs award winning company ‘The Cheshire Garden’, most recently awarded highly commended at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2020 and a bronze medal at the APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) 2020 Awards in the ‘Designer of the Year’ category. Penny, a plant specialist, offers the garden design service ‘Planting with Penny’. Working together, the friends were awarded a silver medal and Best Construction Award at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2019 for their ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite!’ garden commemorating

Along with a first class degree, Michelle secured a prestigious internship at Virginia Tech’s MARE Center while studying at University Centre Reaseheath and gained a unique insight into horse and environmental health at the world renown equine research centre in Virginia, USA. the Children Today Charitable Trust’s 25th anniversary, while in 2017 they took a silver gilt medal there for the ‘Remember Me Garden’, which was part of Mid Cheshire Hospital’s ‘Everybody Knows Somebody’ Dementia Appeal. Their 2018 successes included designing a trade stand garden for BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) at RHS Malvern Spring Festival and assisting in planting the Hartley Botanic trade stand for both RHS Chatsworth and RHS Tatton. All three stands were awarded five gold stars.

Abi Donaldson Level 3 Diploma in Professional Bakery 2019 Foundation Degree in Bakery and Patisserie Technology 2021 Enterprising Abi used lockdown to put the final touches to the launch of her own on-line cake business and has gone on to achieve considerable early success. AbiDBakes began as a portfolio of cakes Abi made for friends and family which she put on social media. There was so much interest that she decided to register as an official business and used the knowledge and confidence gained from her studies to complete the process. She had also gained the necessary hygiene certificates during her courses.

Abi hopes to open her own shop or bakery in her local area of Bolton soon, so her treats can be enjoyed by even more people! www.abidbakes.com

Abi bakes cakes for any occasion, from bespoke celebration to every day cupcakes and postal treats such as brownies, blondies and cookies which are enjoyed UK wide. Her drip and fondant cakes have gone down a storm and she’s also adding artisan breads and desserts to the range – all products she learned to bake at college.

Stay connected! 22

We love to keep in touch with former students through our alumni community, particularly as we celebrate our centenary in 2021. Whether you’re continuing with your studies, entering employment or progressing in your career, please let us know how you’re getting on and about your favourite memories.

Email: alumni@reaseheath.ac.uk

Inspired by the centre’s groundbreaking scientific achievements she realised that she wanted to work in medical research and found that her equine laboratory and clinical skills were very transferable. After graduating she spent 18 months at the Royal Surrey Hospital as a

member of the NHS cancer screening team, followed by a period as a research scientist in human medicine based in Belfast. She is now a senior technical officer in the Northern Ireland public health laboratory at Belfast City Hospital, specialising in food and water safety.

• • • • • • • •

Adventure Sports Agriculture Agricultural Engineering Animal Management/ Science Business and Events Management Construction Countryside and Wildlife Management, Arboriculture, Fish Management, Game Keeping Entry and Foundation Learning Equine Science Floristry Horticulture/ Plant Science/ Landscape Architecture Food Technology/ Science Motor Vehicle Public Services Sport

n STUDENTS Further Education: 2,316 Higher Education: 780 Apprenticeships and work based learning: 1,500 Residential students: 1,000 Students using college transport: 1,500

Connor Smith

Level 3 Diploma in Agriculture 2016; Foundation Degree in Agriculture 2018; BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management 2019; MSc Ruminant Nutrition 2021 Although he has a nonfarming background, Connor is passionate about dairy cows and their welfare and took every opportunity throughout his six years at Reaseheath to further his knowledge. First as a diploma student and later as an undergraduate, he developed his own ideas and theories and acquired useful secondary qualifications. He also worked on a dairy farm, earning a promotion to herd manager. Keen to discover knowledge which would be useful to farmers,

• • • • • • •

n STAFF Total Staff: 600

he studied antibiotic resistance to mastitis for his BSc dissertation and presented his research at the British Undergraduate Research Conference in 2019. Connor was presented with the Meredydd David Award for Academic and Technical Excellence at our graduation ceremony and is now studying for a Master’s degree in ruminant nutrition at Harper Adams University while continuing to manage the herd.

n ESTATE College grounds: 21 hectares Owned and rented farm land: 252.52 hectares Land leased to Crewe Alexandra Football Club: 6 hectares n INCOME Academic year 2018/19: £33.9 million n FACILITIES On-site accommodation for up to 1,000; six catering outlets; student lounge/bar; learning resource centre/ library; HE study area; two sports halls, climbing wall, multi gym, sports pitches; equestrian centre, campus farm, campus zoo, licensed food factory.

Hannah Morrow

BSc (Hons) Horticultural Science and Production Technology 2019 Hannah Morrow completed unique and in-depth research for her final BSc (Hons) Applied Plant Science and Production Technology dissertation which looked at the difficulties of crossing cultivars within the rose growing industry.

that her treatment did indeed increase the chance of successful rose breeding.

Last year’s recipient of the Dean’s Award for Research, Hannah took an intuitive leap and came up with a simple treatment that she theorised would increase pollination, hip set and seed germination. She then proved through practical experiments over one year

Unfortunately the project has been temporarily put on hold due to Covid-19 and Hannah is currently studying for a Masters in Plant Pathology at Harper Adams University, after which she hopes to resume her trials.

The result has been a ground-breaking new treatment that she has begun to develop with a very prestigious UK rose breeder as a member of their research and development team.

Reaseheath unites to remember

While we haven’t been able to carry out our usual programme of off-campus activities, we’ve maintained some traditions onsite through carefully managed events. Students and staff united to mark Remembrance Day through departmental tributes in honour of the people and animals who made and continue to make sacrifices during conflict. Instead of coming together under the college flagpole, we were instead able to pay respects individually at an atmospheric archway of poppies created by floristry students around the entrance to Reaseheath’s historic hall. Students from our Academy of Land and Environment collectively spelled out ‘Lest We Forget’ and ‘Thank You’ on the college lawn and we had readings of famous poems by equine and public services teams. Tributes of poppies and Armed Forces memorabilia by our construction, engineering and food departments were particularly poignant due to our long history of working with Armed Forces veterans, while the contribution of animals in warfare was marked by animal management and agriculture students within their study bubbles. Watch at

https://bit.ly/RHCRemembrance2020

Zoo News We know that the temporary closure of our Mini Zoo has disappointed many visitors, but we have lots of ways of bringing our zoo to you! We have free downloadable wildlife activity packs, sofa safaris packed with animal encounters and

www.reaseheath.ac.uk Reaseheath College, Nantwich Cheshire CW5 6DF | 01270 613242

interesting facts and you can still buy vouchers for animal adoptions, animal encounters or ‘Keeper for a day’. Keep up with our zoo news at www.reaseheath.ac.uk/zoo or Facebook page and we look forward to seeing you as soon as we can.