Myerscough Open Day, 2001

Sunday 3rd June 2001. Every year Myerscough held an open day on the first Sunday in June. This was open to the general public and gave locals a chance to look around all the areas of the college which put on special displays or activities and which also gave prospective students a chance to talk to staff and find out about courses.

These two bunnies were perhaps a bit overwhelmed, but were supporting each other and were at their most appealing. Their pen was large enough for them to stay away from petting hands, if they so wished.

Meanwhile in the Animal Academy, dogs came to be groomed - this chap in particular had to look his best for his upcoming role in TV's Magic Roundabout!

The Floristry team had displays of their own and offered visitors a chance to get hands on with a touch of flower arranging.

The Equine Arena was packed with spectators as students put the horses through their paces.

Likewise, the Plant Centre was well attended all day, whilst entry to the tropical glasshouse had to be regulated at times in order that the temperature didn't drop too much.

There were stalls and displays from local crafts and farm produce suppliers. Here visitors got close to a display of birds of prey.

In the college forge, students were clanging away at lengths of glowing hot iron, showing how decorative ironwork was fashioned.

In the college Mechanisation sheds, students were displaying the rally car and both modern and vintage tractors. At the tool bench these students were taking apart bits of machinery looking confident and knowledgeable in response to my "Can you pick up some bits and look as though you are doing something with them?"

There was quite a bit of interest shown in this large bit of farm machinery. How often do you get to stand close to a combine harvester?

Likewise children were thrilled to be able to clamber onto the large motorised lawnmowers in the Turf Management sheds, though they were a little disappointed that the keys were safely locked away and that the machines couldn't be driven out to mow the meadow...

The Arboriculture staff and students - ever willing to do their Batman bit, gave demonstrations of roping and tree ascending. They were paying particular attention to detail as we had at the time a party of American Arboriculture staff and students visiting from Clemson University USA.

The College's Pony Trekking Centre at Dinkling Green had brought some of their ponies down and eager youngsters, including our neice Heather, queued for rides along one of the tracks across the grounds.

Another popular display was the sheep shearing that took place half a mile along the road from the main campus. Having all our hooved animals housed away from the main campus had served us in good stead during the foot and mouth crisis earlier in the year as some land-based colleges with working farms on the main campus had had to close their doors altogether to students and all but essential staff.

Work Index