Agriculture
Lambing and calving proved to be a highlight for many students and with over 350 lambs and the arrival of our much-anticipated AI calves born on site.
We also welcomed students from other land-based colleges to take part in a cattle handling event, which ended with a competition where Shuttleworth student Olivia George was reserve winner with Red Poll two-year-old heifer Shuttleworth Lulu. The show team went to the South Suffolk Show, with our heifer Shuttleworth Marmalade winning the breed championship.
Countryside
Students have also been developing our environmental habitat areas, undertaking fencing and making owl boxes. Breeding lapwing have been recorded on site as a product of the hard work linked to habitat creation and maintenance.
Fisheries
Fisheries students have been visiting a wide range of locations, gravel jetting on the River Ivel at Tempsford, and at Biggleswade & Hitchin Angling Association where they took part in a project to improve natural fish spawning sites. They also went on a sea-angling trip to Gosport.
They have also been involved with a project to prevent algal growth in a fishing lake, by using barley straw.
Horticulture
Students went to Wimpole, Cambridge Botanic gardens, and Anglesey Abbey as well as a residential trip to Cornwall. Level 3 BTEC students have created a bedding plant display around the Dolphin Tazza (large birdbath) in the walled garden as part of their qualification.
We have new modern battery-powered equipment (lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and strimmers) to reduce the effect of environmental impact created by petrol equipment.
Floristry
Our talented floristry students created the stunning displays at the awards marquee. Two of our students competed in a WorldSkills floristry competition and we wish them the best of luck in getting through to the finals.
Outdoor Education
Students have visited Andorra (skiing) and the Kornati National Park in Croatia (yachting) as well as Wales, Ross-on-Wye and the UK Sailing Academy for residential visits.
We have two students that will be starting the first phase of their Super Yacht Officer training in September. We welcomed organisations from around the country to our annual careers event
Animal Sciences
The Zoological Education Centre (ZEC) is very proud of its wide range of animal species. We have been working in a vast collection of at-risk amphibians. We have bred the Venezuelan red eyed tree frogs and Costa Rican dart frogs here in the ZEC. We also have been very successful breeding the Indian star tortoises successfully hatched and reared in the college licensed zoo.
Our Binturong is confirmed as pregnant, so, we look forward to baby bintlets (official term for Binturong babies) and we have two new arrivals ‘pop and corn’ the Yellow rumped Agouti.
Animal Management
Students have been to London, Whipsnade and Colchester Zoos. Our Level 1 students had a fantastic day at Whipsnade mucking out the winter enclosures, undertaking husbandry activities and developing teamwork skills.
The students have also been involved in maintaining a wildlife garden on site which has used recycled materials in its construction.
Degree-level
One of our HE students Sophia West attended Derby College for the HE Intercollege Challenge attended by colleges from across the country.
This was an opportunity for Level 5 and 6 students to present their research. Sophia was judged 2nd by her peers and 3rd from industry related professionals, for her research on canine body language.
Equine
Hosted a number of events including an evening lecture demo in collaboration with Tyrrells Equine Clinic. Students have been gaining practical experience organising several competitions throughout the year involving dressage, show jumping and showing classes.
Students also had the opportunity to gain knowledge from industry professionals through a number of guest speakers and trips learning about careers in areas such as nutrition, horse behaviour, physiotherapy, saddle fitting and the racing industry to give them a wider view of the vast opportunities available in the equine industry.
Work Experience
This year we have worked with a wide range employers to provide opportunities for students to develop their skills through work experience.
Land and Environment and Outdoor Adventure students have worked with an exciting mix from the Southampton to the Isle of Sky, and Essex to West Wales. For many students this has led to offers of employment on completion of their qualifications and I wish those individuals every success in their new roles.
The Level 3 students have had some fantastic employment opportunities, across Equine and Animal sciences this year, with 75 students have gained either full time or part time employment.
