Issue 9

2006 Chelsea Flower Show 2006 at Chelsea. We were keen to show the amateur gardener what can be done with material made from waste products. Trials to date with tomatoes have been particularly encouraging.

In addition to their success in the education section, students also won a silver in the marquee for Steve and Val Bradley, and Foundation Degree Floristry student, Heidi their display of new plant Baker presenting her bouquet to HRH Queen Elizabeth II varieties in conjunction Horticultural staff and over 20 different tomato with the Sun newspaper. students at Writtle College varieties. are justly proud of their achievement of a It wasn’t just the compost prestigious silver gilt medal that was recycled, but also with their exhibit at this the pots, and hanging year’s Chelsea Flower baskets. The materials used Show entitled ‘Turning to stage the exhibit were Red Tomatoes Green’. also recycled, having been used at last year’s show. Based upon research Writtle College Senior conducted at the College Lecturer, Simon Hart, said into the use of processed ‘It was really great to have Pyramid of Column Stocks green waste, it features demonstrated our research

Winner of Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition On Saturday 6th May 2006 Glasnevin and a graduate undertaking a work Ben Turner won the final of from Edinburgh Botanics placement at The Abbey The Young Horticulturist among others. These Gardens in Tresco, Isle of of the Year Competition, competitions are very Scilly. He came to Writtle organised by the Institute stressful and include and after Year 1 of Horticulture and held at directed questions, completed a sandwich Royal Botanical Gardens, identifications and finger on year at Sir Harold Hillier Edinburgh. the buzzer rounds involving Garden and Arboretum. The competition started all disciplines of horticulture. Both of these placements out with more than 1000 Ben Turner is completing have given Ben a wide entrants at the beginning of his BSc (Hons) Horticulture range of practical skills the year from around the at Writtle this year and has which no doubt helped in UK. Ben won the regional entered into the spirit of his success with the final held here at Writtle in competitions in 2005 and competition. Ben has also March and proceeded to 2006. been involved with the the final, up against rivals Ben completed an ND gold medal winning garden from RHS Wisley, The Horticulture at Kingston at The Chelsea Flower WRITTLE COLLEGE CHELMSFORD CM1 3RR Botanical Gardens of Maurward College, Dorset Show.

What is Horticulture News? Horticulture News is a newsletter for prospective students, employers of students, both past and present, and visitors to the college who want to know more about our activities. If you wish to be put on our mailing list then contact the Horticulture Department Administrator. Address on back page New modules for 2006 Study College Beer Garden: designed & built by HE Landscape students The autumn term will see the start the syllabus due to popular demand BSc and First Diploma Landscape of some new and revamped as is Landscape Ecology. students have completed the last curriculum areas for the phase of implementing the design by horticulture degree at Writtle In addition to these revamped Michael Emmerson for the new College, reflecting the curricular modules, the College will now be Beer Garden on the Writtle campus. needs in response to feedback from offering a new module in student surveys and industry liaison. Plantsmanship. This is the study of the diversity of plants and their Arboriculture has cultivation, and aims to foster the always been a skills of plant recognition, not only popular module by name but also by assessing their and from October cultural requirements based upon 2006 it has been their physical form - a highly widened into two desirable skill for a horticulturist. new modules: Students working on Phase 1 last year We hope that all of these changes Two consecutive teams worked on Arboriculture 1 – will help to maintain and develop the the client led design to provide a The Living Tree, vibrant and The new Arboriculture ‘student focused’ outdoor module examines how and (a level 2 module), varied why trees grow in order to entertainment space complete with and Arboriculture curriculum understand their care and an 80m2 turf stage and bespoke maintenance. 2 – Managing that has BBQ and outdoor bar area. Trees (a level 3 module). Plant become the The two groups worked closely Growth and Protection has been hallmark of with the bar manager, Paul split for the new look syllabus and the Writtle Merchant, to ensure it was ready in will be delivered as Plant Growth College time for the big summer ‘Survivors and Pathology 1 (level 2) and Plant horticulture BBQ’. Michael’s design included 2 Growth & Pathology 2. degree. free-standing metal pergola structures at the entrances. These Ethnobotany, the study of the were inspired by the ones used on traditional uses of plants by Landscape Ecology is back on the Hampton Court ‘Private indigenous people, is also back on the curriculum and offers students the chance to examine Entertainer’ garden and have caused interactions between animals, plants and landscapes. great debate!

More hard but rewarding work is lined up for the Landscape module Student Placement Opportunities in 06/07.

The industrial placement year international salad grower involves a An interesting position for one of remains buoyant with horticulture secondment at their Spanish our undergraduates is that of a students engaged in a range of headquarters. trainee botanist for an organic interesting placements. cosmetics company, Liz Earle, based Students are currently in the in the Isle of Wight. Two of our BSc students are process of finalising placements at employed as landscapers in New Kellie Castle, Dundee, Threave Regular contact is maintained with Zealand. Gardens, and Downe students to ensure the best possible House, ; the home and garden work experience. Feedback Trevor Bates will be joining The of the great Victorian Naturalist obtained from returning students Longwood Gardens training Charles Darwin. confirms that the sandwich programme in the USA for 12 placement forms an important part months, a very prestigious Wendy Crowder has successfully of the horticultural program. placement. gained her placement with HDRA (Garden Organic) that includes a Students on placements gain Neil Ashworth and Annika Brown £3000 bursary from The Hamilton practical, management and are going to Intercrop Ltd for six Trust. interpersonal skills with students months to the headquarters in Spain Jo Pritchard will be working at The being enthusiastic and very positive and another placement with an Royal Gardens, Windsor. about their experiences. 2 Sports Turf News

industry as a ‘sandwich year’ on the British Horseracing Board in June their course with sports turf and 2003. It is the first new-build golf club employers throughout the racecourse to achieve planning UK, Europe or the USA. This again permission since regulation was ensures that they learn and develop introduced by an Act of Parliament strong practical skills for the world in 1948. It is just 45 miles from of work once they graduate. Newmarket and following the July 2004 opening of the new A120 Writtle College students with their IOG Senior lecturer, Stewart Brown, is Stansted to Braintree by-pass, is less National Practical Certificates currently writing his second book than an hours drive by horsebox from racings ‘HQ’. A number of students studying provisionally titled ‘Sports Ground Turfgrass Agronomy at Writtle Management’ following on from his This exciting new sports facility for College recently gained their successful first book which was the region will centre on two National Practical Certificates published last year (Sports Turf and purpose built race tracks with a awarded by the Institute of Amenity Grassland Management). ’polytrack’ surface surrounding a Groundsmanship. The students The new book will cover all natural grass track. Stewart Brown were able to complete this nationally technical, scientific and managerial is currently writing the specification recognised certificate as part of their aspects of managing surfaces used for the construction of the grass degree programme. Although the for sport including those for winter track. The College will be degree programme at Writtle games, cricket, tennis, bowls and developing its links with the owners College emphasise science, horseracing as well as topics such as of this new racetrack for the benefit technology and management Health and Safety, Event of its students and its tracking and subject’s, students are still taught Management and Environmental research activities. and assessed on practical skills in turf Issues and intended for both and other horticultural maintenance industry technicians and managers, tasks. and students studying sports ground management subjects. The This is an important part of Writtle’s book is scheduled for publication in courses and ensures that graduates the Autumn of 2006. are suitably skilled and have the necessary technical knowledge to Writtle College has recently won fulfil the requirements of employers the contract for writing the in the sports turf and amenity specification for the new race track horticulture industries. Students at being constructed at Great Leigh’s Writtle also benefit from in Essex. Great Leigh’s was recognised as Britain’s 60th track by Proposed views of undertaking a full year working in the Great Leigh’s Race course

Professional Floristry

The Foundation degree in Floristry, magazine, much to their delight. Flowers 05, helping to build some is an ideal qualification for the From this first intake, Heidi Baker huge floral creations to decorate the academically able has achieved show venue in . Her photo student wishing to enter remarkable success, can be seen in the autumn edition of this essentially craft-led gaining a work the Society’s magazine, Focal Point. business. experience placement Earthworks have asked her back to be part of the team during her Three of the students at the prestigious West second year, along with another had their corsage work End florists’ Writtle student, Takuya Hirai. reach the top ten in the Earthworks, which she Society of Floristry maintained throughout magazine competition in the College year. We have great hopes for these high- May and their designs She was a member of flyers, with exam success and appeared in the the Society of competition entries on the horizon. Floristry’s team at Heidi Baker 3 ERASMUS update

Through the Erasmus scheme we cucumbers, aubergines, peppers, Spain, with 2000 lorries a day have developed close links with the courgettes, lettuce and melons for exporting the produce. University of Almeria in Spain. In the markets of recent years a number of student northern Europe. and staff exchanges have occurred between Writtle and Almeria. Crops lecturer, Lin Blunt recently took Robert Vickery (BSc Horticulture 2) part in a staff is currently on a 6 month work exchange and was placement with ‘Intercrop’ and is able to visit Robert involved with the production of on his placement. salad crops for the UK market. She was amazed by This area of Spain produces the production enormous amounts of tomatoes, levels in this area of Harvesting baby leaf in Murcia

Part-time and mature students

In the last few years we have You are probably aware that from and the college website (below) for received an increasing number of October 2006 all universities will be more detailed information regarding enquiries and applications from increasing their tuition fees. The fees for study at Writtle and grants. mature students. Often one of the DFES has recently announced that The College also has limited funds to first questions asked is – ‘I really like the fee grant for part-time students help part-time students with their the look of the course, but will I be will be increasing to £750 per year fees. Please contact: older than all the rest of the and that there is also a possible students?’ course grant to cover course Student Support Unit They are reassured to discover that expenses, of £250 per year. (The Maddison Building about a third of the students are figures above are for students taking Writtle College aged 25+. 50% of a full-time course). Chelmsford CM1 3RR tel: 01245 424200 Some of these students are Both grants are means tested with Email:[email protected] changing careers. Others may have provisional household income levels worked for a while and have then set at £15344 for maximum grants If you are thinking of becoming a decided to go to university. and £23145 as maximum income for mature student, whether full-time or receipt of partial fee grant. See part-time, please come to one of our Part-time study is also popular with www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport, open days or information evenings those who have to continue www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and discuss the wide range of working - these students usually opportunities open to you at come to college for 1 or 2 days each Writtle. Dates of events are listed week. on the College website.

WRITTLE COLLEGE For further information about specific issues mentioned in this issue, you can contact the following members of staff. CHELMSFORD ESSEX Please quote ref.Hortnews 5 when replying CM1 3RR Phone: + 44 (0)1245 424200 Course enquiries: Full-time and Part-time Fax: + 44 (0)1245 420456 - John Cullum email. [email protected] Email: [email protected] For news items contact: - Mick Lavelle email. [email protected] or visit us online at: Writtle College www.writtle.ac.uk An International Centre for Horticulture 4