Landex Update

Autumn 2010 News and information for members and interested parties

CONTENTS Landex is a member funded company that seeks to provide services to colleges with a specialism in land based provision. The membership currently comprises 35 LANDEX NEWS colleges of further and/or higher education in England, plus in Wales. It has associate members in Scotland Landex appoints a new Chief Executive (2), Wales (3), and Northern Ireland (1). Quality Improvement News While members vary in the range of their curriculum, the o Two new members clear aim is for all colleges which display the Landex logo o Landex Validation Visits to provide at least good quality provision. The current o Continuing Professional Development membership list can be found at the end of this update. o REEDNet For more information, and a link to each college website, o Benchmarking Data see www.landex.org.uk o Keeping in Touch o Learning and Skills Improvement Service

Landex seeks to provide effective: NEWS FROM LANDEX MEMBERS

Communication, to ensure effective dialogue with Landex Colleges under the Spotlight government, funding bodies, and other agencies and organisations. Outcomes Galore Representation, to help others understand the unique Enjoying and Achieving set of issues that impact on the ability of members to Inspiring Staff work effectively. Winning Teams Quality, to ensure member colleges meet defined quality criteria and receive support, if need be, to Responsive and Innovative Solutions help them achieve this. Enhanced Student Experience Reputation and Credibility, to promote the work of Feeling Safe, Being Healthy both individual colleges and the collective membership, to help others recognise the value of Making a Positive Contribution their work and support members towards success. Promoting Equality and Diversity

Higher Education Research Activity

The Environment and Sustainability Matters

LANDEX MEMBERS LIST AND CONTACTS

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

LANDEX NEWS From the Chief Executive and Director of Quality Improvement

Landex appoints new Chief Executive...

The Board of Directors of Landex is pleased to confirm that Chris Moody OBE, currently Principal of Moulton College, Northamptonshire will become the next Chief Executive of Landex from the 1st January 2011.

Commenting on the appointment, Landex Chairman Meredydd David OBE (Principal of Reaseheath College, Cheshire) said: “The Board is delighted to have been able to engage Chris as its next Chief Executive. The tremendous achievements that have been the hallmark of his Principalship at Moulton College will enable him to bring a wealth of experience to the benefit of Landex and its member colleges.”

Retiring Landex Chief Executive, Vic Croxson DL said: “It has been a privilege to provide Chief Executive services to Landex for the past three and a half years. During that time, membership has grown by 20% and turnover has increased by 100% as a result of project funding and greater numbers of staff from member colleges participating in CPD events. But even more importantly, there is now tangible evidence that the Landex Quality Improvement Strategy is helping colleges improve what they do; thanks in no small measure to Graham Patrick, the Landex Director of Quality Improvement and those who work with him. I’m very confident that Landex will continue to serve its member colleges well under Chris Moody’s leadership”

Quality Improvement News...

Warm welcome to two new members! East Durham College (with a dedicated land based campus at Houghall), and Deeside College in Wales (Coleg Glannau Dyfrdwy, incorporating the Welsh College of Horticulture, and Llysfasi College), became full members of Landex in the summer of 2010. This suggests that the Landex approach to quality improvement is deemed useful across both geographical and regulatory boundaries, and we look forward to working with colleagues in both colleges to share ideas and best practice.

Landex Validation and Quality Improvement Visits. The proposed programme of visits for the coming year has now been shared with Landex contacts in each college. All members have the opportunity to visit another member, and to receive a visit from another member. This helps with self assessment, quality improvement planning and other issues identified by member colleges. During 2009, the team of Landex Quality Advisors has been expanded. Alastair Taylor (you may have seen him on inspection!) is conducting some visits, and Liz Warr has a specific focus to support development and improvement in Higher Education.

Continuing Professional Development. The 2010-11 CPD programme is now available. It includes events for front line teaching staff as well as for middle and senior managers, and aims to get us sharing ideas and practice as much as possible. The first event, for those staff planning and delivering curriculum, is in October. This is followed in November by a new event for Course Managers either new to the role or wanting an opportunity to glean more ideas on how to effect improvement. If you haven’t received the programme, please e-mail Graham Patrick for a copy.

REEDNet. Landex is working with REEDNet (Rural Employer Engagement Network) and hoping to offer more CPD opportunities at an even more subsidised rate for members. There are further opportunities in this programme for individual colleges to use REEDNet funding to develop training for employers. Liz Warr is the Landex expert on this, and will be very happy to speak to you if you are interested. Alternatively, you can access further information online at www.reednet.org

Benchmarking Data. By now, Landex members should have received and made use of the data that Landex has issued comparing success rates, progression rates, and human resources information across members. If not, we hope that you will find this useful in making judgements in your self assessment. If you haven’t seen it and would like a copy sent, see your Landex contact or e-mail Graham Patrick direct.

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

Keeping in Touch. Landex maintains a range of different mailing lists for people in specific roles in member colleges. Some are simple lists of e-mails. These are kept up to date and enable Landex to send requests from any member to others with the confidence that the message will reach the right people. However, most lists are underused yet they have potential to help us all network and share practice much more effectively. So if your role is listed below, please contact either Vic Croxson or Graham Patrick and they will make sure you are included. If you request your query to be circulated, we can pass it to others in similar roles across the membership. Simple!

Contact Vic Croxson or Graham Patrick to have you name added to the following Landex e-mail lists: FE or HE management College Farm Management Funding and Finance Employer Engagement Sustainability Human Resources Management E-Learning Facilities Management

Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). Landex has been working with LSIS through the last year and a number of members have benefited from additional support to assess their readiness for Ofsted inspection. Future plans include a possible project to support awareness and uptake of LSIS services for improvement. You should know LSIS has a guide to all its services, some of which are free and all of which are designed to help us improve; look for the PDF version on their website, at www.lsis.org.uk.

NEWS FROM LANDEX MEMBERS

Landex Colleges under the Spotlight...

A significant proportion of Landex member colleges were inspected by Ofsted during the 2009/10 academic year. Congratulations are extended to Hartpury College and Hadlow College who were graded as outstanding overall together with Duchy College (part of Cornwall College) who were graded as outstanding for their land-based provision.

New this year was the change of focus from Achievement and Standards in the last inspection cycle to Outcomes for Learners which encompasses the five outcomes espoused under the Every Child Matters agenda. This has made for some interesting reading in inspection reports and it is evident that inspectors have a much greater interest in student’s achievements far beyond the successful achievement of qualifications.

About Hartpury College, Ofsted said: “Students develop many skills which help them prepare for economic well-being. They frequently contribute to shows, competitions and events. Teamwork, budgeting, problem solving, social and leadership skills receive strong focus in these activities. Undertaking group assignments and developing presentation skills build students’ self-confidence well ... they make informed choices about healthy lifestyles and have good awareness of healthy eating. There are many opportunities to be active and to eat healthily, and take-up is high. Students make a positive contribution to the community. Students support sustainable development effectively through planting trees, practising conservation and recycling”

The message was much the same at Hadlow College: “Learners are safe, and feel very safe, within the college. They have outstanding opportunities to help them make informed decisions about their health and well-being. These include: excellent use of the tutorial programme to promote health; the proactive role of the college welfare service; and, the college’s participation in the ‘Healthy College’ initiative. Learners make an outstanding contribution to both the college and local communities. Within the college, the ‘learner voice’ is a powerful contributor to shaping the work and development of the college”

Copies of inspection reports can be downloaded at www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Inspection-reports and anyone with an interest in quality and quality improvement should use reports as a useful source of information and ideas. Don’t forget the Excellence Gateway where specific examples of best practices gleaned through the inspection process are available for scrutiny and adaption for use at your college. Visit www.excellencegateway.org.uk for more details.

During the past year or so, fifteen Landex members have received a review of their Higher education provision, fourteen as part of the IQER (Integrated Quality Evaluation and Review). Harper Adams University College has also received an Institutional Audit (March 2010). These reviews make three main judgements, on how well the college manages the standards of awards, their management of quality of learning, and the accuracy and completeness of information. It is pleasing to report that all fifteen reviews of Landex members have resulted in judgements of ‘confidence’ in all these key areas. View these and other reports for yourself at www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

More members are submitting applications for, and gaining recognition for the quality of their work in engaging with employers and industry needs, through the ‘Training Quality Standard’. To date, 16 members have successfully gained Part A of this standard (which recognises the colleges ability to work effectively with employers), and five have also gained specific recognition in working with employers in land based industries, through acquisition of Part B of the standard noting ‘Excellence in Environmental and Land-based Training’. See the details of who has what, and details of standards, at: www.trainingqualitystandard.co.uk/index.php

Outcomes Galore...

During the past year, Landex Quality Advisors have collected a very wide range of good news stories as they have weaved the length and breadth of the country. It is difficult to know where to start when it comes to celebrating members achievements and it is inevitable that something important will have been missed. In the following pages, we will celebrate a few of the many good news stories which we have collected from members during the past year. We have attempted to marshal these according to a range of current and topic themes. Read on for more details:

Enjoying and Achieving...

Landex member colleges offer a fantastic range of opportunities for students to get involved with competitions and events where they can demonstrate their excellence and benefit from enriched activities which can only go on to help them develop their economic and social well being. The UK Skills competitions are a regular feature at many Landex colleges. Visit www.ukskills.org.uk to get involved. Landex member colleges are excellent when it comes to spotting opportunities for learners to flourish and across the membership, there has been much success. Horticulture and Floristry feature regularly although there are many other examples such as:

At the Harrogate Spring Flower Show, Askham Bryan Berkshire College of Agriculture National Diploma in College were awarded a gold medal and “best in Sports student Georgina Cunningham, represented show” for floristry and silver gilt for the show GB in the Paraolympics in 2008. The college garden. sponsored her to buy a new shooting jacket.

Congratulations to three learners from Bishop Burton Florists at Reaseheath College successfully College who have won City and Guilds medals of participated in the 2009 UK skills competition, Excellence, in Land-Based Service Engineering, Mixed qualifying for the finals of the “College of the Year” Farming, and Fashion Design. at the RHS Tatton Show.

Hartpury College Equine Academy Eventing At Capel Manor, two National Diploma students won Scholarship rider and BSc Equine Science student, the intermediate UK leg of the World Skills Dani Cuomo, won European Team Gold at the FEI Landscape competition. One, now at the University European Eventing Championships for Young Riders of Cornwall, is in training for preparation to join the held at Kreuth (Germany). World Skills 2011 UK team.

Kingston Maurward College won a Bronze medal at Northumberland College ANCA Sheep management the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show with a garden students won first and second prize in Regional designed and built by horticulture students. Young Shepherd of the year competition.

Two construction students at Otley College won Chichester College (Brinsbury) student, Matt Smith, awards at the ‘ 2009 Building won a gold medal in the national final of the BALI Services Regional Training Awards’ landscaping competition and hopes to travel to Canada for the world championships.

At Plumpton College, two Floristry teams celebrated Warwickshire College enjoyed success at the Malvern a win at the New Covent Garden College Competition Spring Garden festival, winning a Bronze Medal for where they competed in the early hours of Armistice its Hospice Garden, Silver Gilt for trade stand and Day against Colleges from all over the UK. The prize highly commended for schools garden. A Gold Medal included £150 plus a days’ work experience with the was awared at Hampton Court for a garden which New Covent garden traders. recreated the 1800’s nursery of James Veitch.

In May 2009, University of Cumbria (Newton Rigg) Sparsholt College was successful across a range of students won a silver medal at Chelsea Flower show disciplines including British Dressage, the Chelsea for a cottage garden. Flower Show and a student made it through to Final of Young Horticulturalist of the year.

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

Inspiring Staff...

Staff and Governors at Landex member colleges act as great role models for their students. Congratulations to the following for their achievements:

Askham Bryan College lecturer Harry Turner is the Herefordshire College of Technology floristry tutor, lead Landscape Trainer for the UK team competing Tina Pound, came first in a prestigious Royal in the World Skills competition. Lecturer, Kate Horticultural Society regional final and Blacksmithing Pepper, is part of the training team for the UK tutor, Adrian Legge demonstrated his considerable florists competing in the world skills competition. skills to the Canadian Blacksmiths Association.

Neil Bain, a dedicated and passionate floristry At South Staffordshire College (Rodbaston) following lecturer at Hadlow College, is one of just 19 people a top 20 place in a national fishing competition, in the Country to achieve the Level 5 Master Diploma fisheries Lecturer Andy Taylor has represented in Professional Floristry (MDPF). To achieve the England in the autumn home international fishing qualification, Neil had a round trip of over 500 miles competition, held at Lake of Menteith, Scotland. every third weekend. This lasted for 18 months!

Northumberland College Equine lecturer was chosen Cherilyn Huff, a lecturer at Brooksby Melton College to represent the North and England at the first ever reached the semi-finals of the BBC competition to Home versus International Dressage competition. find a new presenter for wildlife programmes

Winning Teams...

Success demands a true team effort and staff from Landex member colleges have enjoyed considerable success during 2009 and 2010. To name a few:

Staff at Bridgwater College (Cannington) won two At Moulton College, over one hundred female staff National Beacon Awards for their work with took part in the ‘Race for Life’ to raise over £12,000 Functional Skills and for Sustained Community for cancer research. They formed the largest team Development. entry in the run, held at Silverstone race circuit.

Team Hadlow College had great success at the 2009 Hartpury College is well known for its sporting Kent County Show, with prizes including: "Top Gold" success but particular congratulations are extended and "Best in Show" for the "Squared Circle" garden, to the Hartpury Rugby Academy first 11 appeared at "Top Gold" for the Sweet Pea display, overall Twickenham twice in five days firstly beating Clifton winner of the Horticultural section, and best RFC for the EDF trophy and then UWIC to seal a hat- Agricultural Trade Stand. trick of BUCS titles – what a week!

Herefordshire College of Technology’s National The visitor centre at South Staffordshire College School of Blacksmithing at the Holme Lacy Campus (Rodbaston) has received recognition by winning a has successfully made it into the regional finals for a 2009 award by Going Places tourism magazine, for Countryside Alliance Award. The Awards are given ‘Best Small Family Attraction in the Midlands 2009’. to recognise and celebrate rural individuals and The centre welcomed over 5000 visitors in the businesses who are ambassadors for both local summer of 2009 to see the range of animals and the produce and the communities which they serve. café and gift shop.

Was it a team, herd or flock effort?

No answers on a postcard but congratulations to the following teams, herds and flocks. This just goes to show what Landex members are doing to expose their students to the very best commercial practices.

The Hereford herd at Holme Lacy was recognised by Bicton College recently won the EBLEX Sheep better EBLEX as the Most Improved Herd for the Hereford Returns Programme (SheepBRP) award for their flock breed for 2008/09. The award is presented by the of Texel Sheep. This is for the greatest improvement EBLEX Beef Better Returns Programme (Beef BRP), to in breed potential and must make these Texel’s the the herd that shows the greatest genetic gain for most improved in the country. commercial traits over 12-months.

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

Responsive and Innovative Solutions Enhance Student Experience...

Given the greater focus on developing outcomes for learners, Landex member colleges have devised a range of ideas and solutions to promote students achievement and enjoyment, and the development of economic and social well being. This subject would require its own newsletter but here are a few ideas from around the Landex membership.

At Askham Bryan College, a “Student of the Month” scheme has been set up to reward students who have achieved beyond expectations. This has been awarded to several students for various aspects of college life. Duchy College has introduced “Pass Packs” for students following the BTEC Award and Diploma in Animal Management, so in-class activities cover Pass criteria, allowing greater focus on higher Merit and Distinction grades through further work including assisted study periods built into the timetable. Northumberland College has introduced a rewards system (comprising of local high street vouchers) for foundation learners to encourage and embed positive behaviour such as attendance, focus on their learning and completion of required tasks. This is good for the local high street as well!

Bridgwater College (Cannington) has introduced “Bridgwater Enterprise Skills” into the curriculum of a number of groups with students selling meals from the college Bistro, and growing plants to be sold in the “Walled Garden Shop”. All students have opportunity to choose a progression ‘taster’, and to undertake a progression project, to encourage progression to higher level qualifications. At Duchy College, there is good emphasis on progression to mainstream courses for entry level students. Students adopt a different timetable for the summer term with a longer day, independent study, study skills and community involvement to help prepare for progression. This is leading to improved progression to mainstream programmes.

At Northumberland College there are plans for cross curricular links between aspects of land-based subjects and other curriculum areas such as hospitality and catering to enrich the overall learner experience and increase breadth of understanding. Equine students at South Staffordshire (Rodbaston) develop their employability skills through work experience as Arena crew at the British Open, and at the Horse of the Year show. Otley College in Suffolk enhances its student experience by giving them the opportunity to “swap for a day” with those from a similar course at another college. In a similar vein, the college awards bronze, silver and gold awards to staff for the extent to which they make use of the college’s Virtual Learning Environment to improve learner engagement in e-learning.

Many members have invested heavily to enhance the learner experience. For example, the at Cambridge commenced the 2009/10 academic year with a new learning resource centre, laboratories, dog grooming parlour, catering facilities, and an equine therapy unit including a treadmill, and exercise pool. Easton, Hadlow, Bishop Burton, Reaseheath, and Plumpton Colleges have all opened new buildings and facilities during the year.

Feeling Safe, Being Healthy...

The increased importance of the Safeguarding agenda has led to a plethora of schemes and initiatives across all Landex member colleges. Here are a few examples of practice:

Many Landex members have raised their game to promote effective safeguarding. Most require staff to wear identity badges at all times. Other strategies include the presence of security staff, senior managers meeting buses and speaking with drivers to ensure any issues are acted upon. Tutorial provision has been enhanced, covering e-learning, alcohol awareness, Chlamydia, bullying and safe driving. At Bridgwater College (Cannington), Bridgwater Angels is a group of trained volunteer students who support new students and bring any concerns raised with them to staff. These also work on buses and report any issues such as bullying.

Duchy College also employs the ‘Bus Buddy Scheme’ to pair more vulnerable learners with a ‘Bus Buddy’ (a trained fellow learner) to enable them to travel safely and with confidence. They have also introduced the ‘Safe Driving’ programmes for newly qualified drivers to reinforce road safety principles and practice. At Hartpury College, mini-bus drivers were amongst the first staff to receive training in Safeguarding.

Both Myerscough College and Hartpury College (and many others) have introduced credit card sized card for staff on safeguarding giving outline details of what to look for and contact details if referral on is needed. They are designed to fit into staff badge holders and worn at all times. At Walford and North Shropshire College, the response to Safeguarding includes a Cyber bullying screen which appears on each computer upon start up. This is part of a series of themed weeks of messages for all. A similar system has been employed by many Landex member colleges.

The nature of courses on offer at most Landex member colleges means that students generally engage in a good deal of physical activity which helps to keep them fit and healthy. Many now employ Sports Coordinators (FESCO’s) who help to arrange and monitor participation in a wide range of sporting activities. In addition, Landex members are celebrating some useful additional initiatives designed to promote healthy lifestyles, such as:

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

At Askham Bryan College, the meal card system for resident students allows the food purchased by students to be monitored with support for the provision of a balanced diet. At the same college, a group of sports studies students worked with a group of LLDD students during the year with the planning and running of activities designed to promote fitness and team working.

Those Bishop Burton College students, who play sport in a college team, must join the college’s sports centre. This ensures they value, and are committed to, the high quality sports facilities. The colleges “Sports Village” is used for a wide variety of enrichment activities and for commercial work. There is also a high quality dance studio.

Berkshire College of Agriculture offers a free cooked breakfast for any student travelling on college bus into college (which is subsidised but not free). Wiltshire College (Lackham) has provided vacuum cleaner, microwave, and food safety training for residential students. Bridgwater College received the ‘Healthy College’ award for its whole college action on healthy eating, healthy environment, recycling, sexual health, and smoking.

Making a Positive Contribution...

Whether as part of the college community or within the local area, Landex member colleges and their students make a very positive contribution to the communities they serve. This can only add to the sense of community cohesion and further develop students employability skills. Here are a few example of good practice:

Sports students at Reaseheath College organised a Hadlow College countryside management students five-a-side football competition involving 22 local have taken their new found skills into the schools. community, and are currently working on a wildlife garden for the local primary school.

The enterprise activity undertaken by foundation South Staffordshire College (Rodbaston) has learners at Northumberland College helps to organised its own ‘general election’ with students encourage appreciation and economic well being, representing each of the 3 main parties, and all such as buying, collating and selling vegetable boxes students encouraged to vote. Time is given to to staff, donating part of their profits to charity. question the candidates and cast votes.

Foundation students at Myerscough College are At Brooksby Melton College, an external facilitator is involved with an initiative to re-use files and other used to lead learner forums for each course. This has stationary such as plastic wallets, pads of paper, and led to honest and useful feedback whereby learners envelope files. Students help sort recycled goods for contribute to the discussion and provide three staff and other learners to use positive statements together with three suggestions as to how improvements can be made

“Team Capel’, has been introduced by Capel Manor Agriculture students at the Herefordshire College of as a formalised way of encouraging volunteering, and Technology raised money for charity in a rather a heightened sense of responsibility for the college, unusual way. Fourteen students, decided to take fellow students, and the collective learning responsibility for harvesting the College farm’s first environment. Volunteers, receive incentives such as cut silage. The students carefully planned the event, a college sweatshirt, eligibility for special awards, arranged their own publicity, and drummed up a lot and mention of their efforts on college references. of support which helped them to raise nearly £1000.

Oaklands College is making a positive contribution in Animal Management students at Writtle College various ways: As well as students getting involved in opened the Animal Unit to visitors. The programme various shows and events, the College Riding for the included a dog agility and obedience competition, Disabled (RDA) team stormed their way to victory at dressage to music, a discover dog's session, and a RDA’s Ruby Anniversary National Championships. livestock parade. For refreshment a food and cake Even the Principal got involved by raising £6,000 for stall was on hand. the ReachOut Charity by buying himself out of jail!

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

Promoting Equality and Diversity...

Landex member colleges are involved in a great variety of projects and initiatives designed to promote equal opportunities and to raise student’s awareness of diversity and to challenge stereotypes. For example:

Bishop Burton College runs equality and diversity themed weeks to develop learner awareness Bicton College is involved in a project with the Devon refugee centre, and Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre to support refugee women in Devon. The Cultural Diversity week at Duchy College culminates in a major event at the Eden Centre for both College and community. Links have been made with city colleges to encourage minority ethnic groups to visit Duchy College and take short courses. The college also works with young farmers delivering sign language skills training to help them to improve skills to manage disabled access to farms. At the University of Lincoln a question bank focussed on E&D, bullying and harassment issues was introduced to support the WBL process. Learner’s knowledge is tested every time they receive a work-place review. At the University of Lincoln, Agricultural Engineering students are repairing a second hand tractor, and two trailers which have been donated to the charity Project Cornerstone which exports refurbished farm equipment to Ghana to help a planned vocational training centre teach farming and household skills to young women and children. Students from other colleges, such as Hartpury and Bicton, are involved with similar initiatives. Bridgewater College (Cannington) promotes equality and diversity through the curriculum, with each section having its own plan, and an Advanced Practitioner providing specific support to teaching staff to help them incorporate E&D issues into the curriculum. In horticulture, the college has integrated Entry and Level 1 with Level 2 and 3 cohorts as a means of promoting understanding and cohesion. At , a “Progression Officer” has been appointed to encourage progression and higher aspirations among the different student groups. This certainly meets the requirement to “Bridge the Achievement Gap” which is a feature of current Ofsted inspection. At Wiltshire College, an Advance Practitioner has delivered staff development in avoiding confrontational situations with or between learners and how to spot signs of bullying between groups. Reaseheath College has introduced specific, targeted recruitment to attract males into equine courses, resulting in 10% male recruitment in 2008/09. Bicton College uses a memorable name for its Equality and Diversity Group, namely the SHEEP Committee where SHEEP stands for safe, health, enjoy, economic well being, positive contribution, appropriately linking equality and diversity with ECM themes.

Our Higher Education members are active in research...

Although most Landex members offer Higher Education, and as such are involved with a range of applied research, our Higher Education Institutions are particularly active in this respect. For example

The Royal Agricultural College is following a range of research themes such as; the effect of soil texture, pH and calcium on the growth and development of Forage Lupins in the UK, the development of Forage Lupins and spring sown cereals as bi-crops suitable for organic livestock production, EU agricultural trade flows following EU enlargement, strategies for adding value to coffee production in smaller nations: a case study of producers and exporters in the Guatemalan coffee industry, improved forms of business collaboration for primary producers operating within the UK food supply chain, maternal predictors of post parturition foal development, and regional variation in soil nutrients and associated mineral content of fresh and preserved forage for horses. To find out more visit http://www.rac.ac.uk/?_id=3604 Harper Adams University College is active in research across its Animals, Crops, and Rural Affairs/Environmental Departments. Topics are wide ranging including the likes of strategies for the disposal of fallen livestock and their applicability to the UK situation, the welfare implications of grazing high-yielding dairy cows, optimising the efficiency of fungicides in distilling wheat, and systematic review as a tool for invasive species surveillance and control. A comprehensive list is available at http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/research/research.cfm At Writtle College, a number of focal hubs of research have emerged. These can be summarised as Crop Science: Production and Technology, Centre for Equine and Animal Science, Postharvest Technology, Landscape Architecture, Habitat Conservation, and Sport and Exercise Performance. Research subjects and publications can be viewed at http://www.writtle.ac.uk//pge_MainDisplay.cfm?ID=41 Don’t forget that most Landex members offer significant volumes of Higher Education with all the associated research activity which runs alongside. Visit their websites for more details.

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

The Environment and Sustainability Matters...

Many Landex members are at the forefront of the Environmental and Sustainability agenda and a variety of best practice can be found across the sector. Here are a few examples.

At Bedford College (Shuttleworth), waste bread from a local supermarket, is used to feed animals in the animal management unit, and providing routine duties for animal management learners to prepare the food for use. Derby College has opened a new campus this academic year. This is a converted Railway building and has made use from heritage lottery monies. Whilst this is not used for land-based delivery, it does offer an exciting learning venue with a good range of modern technologies and good use of space. Harper Adams University College (HAUC) has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after a thorough external review of its approach to energy management. HAUC is the 16th higher education institution to be recognised. Moulton College has engaged in a variety of environmental and sustainability initiatives including the Garden Centre which collects storm water and then uses this for plant watering, a Biodiesel generator purchased to convert chip fat into diesel to run two tractors, a Charcoal kiln purchased to demonstrate college produced wood being made into charcoal. The college has funded research into the impact of agri-environmental schemes on wildlife biodiversity, as part of the doctorate for Emma Coulthard. Myerscough College has appointed a senior member of staff responsible for sustainability. Together with regular articles in college newsletter, the co-ordinator has designed input for cross-college tutorials. Berkshire College of Agriculture, together with a number of other Landex member colleges makes sure that the sustainability message and relevant images are displayed on the plasma screens around the college to help convey an ongoing and reinforcing message for students. Derby College is involved in a project called “Catapulting Kids” which is being used to introduce environmental technologies to school pupils. The college has invested in a range of show case equipment and technologies such as solar panels to heat a greenhouse, etc Hartpury College has gained the Learning Outside the Classroom award (from the Council for learning outside the classroom), and the CEVAS (National Care farming) award for its work with school pupils. The college is working with the charity Concern Universal, to develop a training course in global management and sustainability. Congratulations to Wiltshire College for their Green Gown application for sustainability aspects being built into the animal care curriculum. This has been identified by the LSC in their publication “Embedding Sustainable Development in the Curriculum” as an example of good practice. Harper Adams has again been successful in its application to the Green Gown awards (second year running!), in 2010 being ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Sustainable Construction and Refurbishment’ section for its construction of a small scale, cost effective building with big environmental and educational benefits. This builds well on Landex members’ achievements in the previous year when all three award winners in the ‘Colleges and Smaller Institutions’ section (Warwickshire, Bedford, Harper Adams) were Landex members. Over 200 delegates attended this year's Cirencester Conference at the Royal Agricultural College (RAC). The Conference, titled "Business strategies for the next decade", was chaired by Julia Bradbury, BBC Journalist and Broadcaster, best known for presenting BBC's Countryfile. One of the highlights of the day was a panel session. The panel debated a wide range of issues including sourcing worldwide and the future challenges of the food chain, alongside the efficiency of food miles and the priorities for food production in the next ten years.

LANDEX UPDATE AUTUMN 2010

Landex Members (Use the link from www.landex.org.uk to find members quickly) Askham Bryan College www.askham-bryan.ac.uk Berkshire College of Agriculture www.bca.ac.uk Bedford College (Shuttleworth) www.shuttleworth.ac.uk Bicton College www.bicton.ac.uk Bishop Burton College www.bishopburton.ac.uk Bridgwater College (Cannington) www.bridgwater.ac.uk Brooksby Melton College www.brooksbymelton.ac.uk Capel Manor College www.capel.ac.uk Chichester College (Brinsbury) www.chichester.ac.uk College of West Anglia www.col-westanglia.ac.uk Deeside College (Llysfasi and Welsh College of Horticulture) www.deeside.ac.uk Derby College www.derby-college.ac.uk Duchy College www.duchy.ac.uk Easton College www.easton-college.ac.uk East Durham College (Houghall) www.eastdurham.ac.uk Hadlow College www.hadlow.ac.uk Harper Adams University College www.harper-adams.ac.uk Hartpury College www.hartpury.ac.uk Herefordshire College of Technology (Holme Lacy) www.hct.ac.uk Kingston Maurward College www.kmc.ac.uk Moulton College www.moulton.ac.uk Myerscough College www.myerscough.ac.uk Northumberland College (Kirkley Hall) www.northland.ac.uk Oaklands College www.oaklands.ac.uk Otley College www.otleycollege.ac.uk Plumpton College www.plumpton.ac.uk Reaseheath College www.reaseheath.ac.uk Royal Agricultural College www.rac.ac.uk South Staffordshire College (Rodbaston) www.rodbaston.ac.uk Sparsholt and Andover College (Sparsholt) www.sparsholt.ac.uk University of Cumbria (Newton Rigg Campus) www.cumbria.ac.uk University of Lincoln www.lincoln.ac.uk Walford and North Shropshire College www.wnsc.ac.uk Warwickshire College (Moreton Morrell and Pershore) www.warkscol.ac.uk Wiltshire College (Lackham) www.wiltscoll.ac.uk Writtle College www.writtle.ac.uk

Associate members in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Barony College www.barony.ac.uk Coleg Gwent (Usk) www.coleggwent.ac.uk Coleg sir gar www.colegsirgar.ac.uk Cafre (DARNI) www.cafre.ac.uk Oatridge College www.oatridge.ac.uk Bridgend College (Pencoed) www.bridgend.ac.uk