| Myerscough College | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Principal | Ann Turner |
| Chair of Governors | Ian Higginbotham |
| Location | Myerscough and Bilsborrow, Lancashire, United Kingdom |
| Campus | Rural (Preston) |
| Website | www.myerscough.ac.uk |
Myerscough College (pronounced Myersco or Myerskoh) is a Higher and Further Education college near Bilsborrow on the Fylde in Lancashire, England.
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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 colleges degrees and there are special links with two Universities in the USA.[3]
Other centres have also been added in Blackburn, Blackpool, 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]
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 2006 the college had about 6,000 students, of whom 2,000 were full time, with about 1,000 studying Higher Education. Subjects to study at Myerscough College include arboriculture, agriculture, 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 programmes.
There is an International Equine Arena, a nine hole golf course[10] and Simulated Golf Training Centre, the National Arboricultural Centre, the Plant Centre, an off-road driving track, 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 40 cows at one time, which the college stated showed their long-term commitment to agriculture.[4]
Paul Burgess, head groundsman at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, is a former Myerscough student.[11] He formerly worked at Blackpool's Bloomfield Road and Arsenal's Highbury and Emirates Stadiums.
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