Myerscough College

Coordinates: 53°51′11″N 2°45′47″W / 53.8531°N 2.7631°W / 53.8531; -2.7631

Myerscough College
Motto Opportunities for All to Succeed
Type Public
Principal Ann Turner
Chair of Governors Steve Rigby
Address St. Michael's Road, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire PR3 0RY, Myerscough and Bilsborrow, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Campus Rural (Preston)
Website www.myerscough.ac.uk

Myerscough College (pronounced as Myerscoe) is a Higher and Further Education college near Bilsborrow on the Fylde in Lancashire, England.

Origins

The college dates back to the 19th century, when it was known as Lancashire College of Agriculture.[1] The original college was based to the south of Preston near Hutton, and moved to the current site in 1969, as recorded by a stone plaque on the teaching block built at that time. The new college was built on the site of Myerscough Hall,[2] near St Michael's Road in Bilsborrow, and is in the rural parish of Myerscough and Bilsborrow.[3]

The college occupies the substantial grounds previously occupied by the hall and farm, extending to River Brock on the north side, and St Michael's Road on the south. The college also leases several local farms, including Lee Farm[1] and Lodge Farm,[4] for agricultural research and teaching purposes. The college estate extends to 605 hectares, and the campus has extensive residential accommodation.[3]

The college offers both further and higher education. The University of Central Lancashire validates the college's degrees and there are special links with two universities in the USA.[3]

Other centres have also been added in Blackburn, Burnley, Liverpool, Manchester and Dorset. Each offers a variety of land-based and sport courses. The Myerscough Centre in Dorset, the Lynwood Veterinary Hospital, specialises in veterinary nursing.

In September 2006, the college was the setting for former BBC Gardeners' World presenter, Christine Walkdens new television programme, Christine's Garden. Walkden is a former student at the college,[1] and in the programme she gave advice on how to present and sell produce; and she also reminisced about her time at the college. The shows aired on BBC2 in March 2007.[5] On 11 October 2006, Equine expert Monty Roberts, the inspiration for the Robert Redford film, The Horse Whisperer appeared at the college as part of his "The Horses in My Life" tour.[6] On 20 February 2007, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex visited the college and toured around the college's agricultural education facilities, where he was said to be very impressed by the welcome he received at the college.[7] And in June 2007, the Bishop of New York, the Right Rev E Don Taylor, spent three days at the college, as part of a two-month sabbatical learning about the mission and ministry of rural communities and churches. [8]

Study

In August 2005, the college announced a partnership with Lancashire County Cricket Club where they would offer students the opportunity to study at the club's indoor cricket centre for a national diploma combining academic studies in sport with practical skill development in cricket.[9]

In 2011 the college had over 7,000 students, of whom 2,500 were full-time, with about 1,000 studying Higher Education. Subjects to study at Myerscough College include agriculture, arboriculture, ecology, countryside management, motorsports, mechanisation, sports and leisure, golf, landscape design, animal care, equine studies, horticulture, sportsturf, photography, and farriery/metalwork. Short courses for industry range from crane handling to crop spraying, and short leisure courses from caravan manoeuvring to floristry. Myerscough has also been in the forefront of developing on-line and blended learning courses for the land-based industries, allowing students to work full or part-time and to study on-line to complete foundation degree and Honour degree programmes.

Facilities

Myerscough College is home to the National Centre for arboriculture, and is recognised internationally for its specialism in this subject.

There is an international equine arena, a nine-hole golf course[10] and simulated golf training centre, the plant centre, an off-road driving track, nine-hole disc golf course, sports fields and a sports centre and gymnasium, as well as an arboretum, woods, fields, ponds and the River Brock on the site. The Frank Peregrine Higher Education Centre was opened in 2006 and extended in 2010.

In addition, the college houses the Rural Business Centre, which provides support for rural business in the form of courses, advice, links and the Rural Business Incubator for startup businesses.

The sports centre, which cost £1.8M, was opened in 2004, and contains a golf studio.[10] In May 2007, the college opened a milking parlour at Lodge Farm which can facilitate 50 cows at one time, which the college stated showed their long-term commitment to agriculture.[4]

Notable former students

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Garden guru at college". Blackpool Gazette. 2006-09-22. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  2. ↑ "Myerscough". GENUKI. 2006-06-01. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  3. 1 2 3 "Myerscough & Bilsborrow Profile". Lancashire County Council. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  4. 1 2 Wade, David (2007-05-24). "College invests in milk parlour". Blackpool Gazette. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  5. ↑ Ettridge, Lisa (2007-03-14). "Gardens expert in BBC2 role at college". Blackpool Gazette. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  6. ↑ "The Horse Whisperer to appear at college". Blackpool Gazette. 2006-10-04. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Joe (2007-02-21). "Royal visit for Fylde college". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  8. ↑ Butler, Heather (2007-06-22). "Bishop of New York visits Fylde". Blackpool Gazette. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  9. ↑ "Myerscough's Lancs link". Blackpool Gazette. 2005-08-02. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  10. 1 2 "Putting the fun into college course work". Blackpool Gazette. 2004-12-08. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  11. ↑ Peter Hetherington, Leader of Wiltshire Council in The Guardian dated 28 May 2013, online at the guardian.com, accessed 16 November 2014
  12. ↑ "Groundsman Paul becomes a Galáctico! " - Myerscough College's official website
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.