| Education
Gareth Jones, Farm Manager, welcoming the students to the farm
in the Rhug conference room
Rhug welcome Plumpton College students to the farm
The Rhug welcomed a group of second year students from Plumpton College, Brighton, to the Estate last week. The
students were eager to learn about how the Rhug is managed, as part of their Foundation Degree in Countryside
Management.
hilst visiting the
Rhug the group of
six students were
given a tour of the
farm by Gareth
Jones, Rhug Farm
Manager. The group were also
shown around the Rhug Cutting
Plant by the Production Manager,
Gary Jones. They completed their
visit in the Rhug Bistro and Farm
Shop.
Course Tutor, Sarah George,
who organised the trip, said, “As
part of our trip to north Wales I was
very keen to incorporate a visit to
the Rhug Estate to learn how Lord
W
Newborough manages to run the
farm and to make a commercially
viable business. We were also
interested to learn how the Rhug
incorporates environmentally
beneficial practises into its farm
management.”
The second year Countryside
Management Course students are
not the first group from Plumpton
College to visit the Rhug. Groups
of students from the College’s
agricultural course are regular
visitors to the estate.
The Rhug Estate encourages
groups of college students to visit
the farm to help with their
education. Primary and Secondary
school groups are also welcome
to arrange farm tours, which can
involve a cookery lesson, to learn
more about where their food
comes from. [More follows…]
Lord Newborough said, “I
believe it is part of our job as
custodians of this land to impart
the knowledge we have to the next
generation. I feel it is vitally
important to teach the next
generation of farmers about how
important organic farming is to
providing a better, more
sustainable and healthy future for
the next generation. With regards
to showing primary and secondary
school children around, I am
horrified by newspaper articles
that state children do not know
where their food comes from. I
want our future generation of
consumers to make an educated
choice when it comes to where
they buy from.”
Sarah George added, “We
would like to thank the team at
Rhug for welcoming us last Friday.
It was fascinating to learn more
about how you work organically
on the farm, whilst delivering niche
and top-end products to retail and
commercial customers.”
The Prince’s Countryside Fund announces new pilot
scheme to mentor next generation of farmers
The Prince’s Countryside Fund, with Bishop Burton College, has launched a pilot scheme providing mentoring to
participants in the college’s popular Farm Business Management Programme.
ecognising the
importance and
benefits of peer-to-
peer learning, the
Fund is pairing
delegates from the
course with farmers who supply to
Jordans Cereals, long term
supporters of The Prince’s
Countryside Fund. This activity
forms part of the Jordans Farm
Partnership.
Since 2015 Bishop Burton
College has received two grants
from the Fund, to support a
residential programme providing
training in effective farm
management practices. The course
is open to new entrants working in
agriculture across the UK and is
delivered at Bishop Burton
College’s Riseholme Showground
campus.
The delegates complete a two-
week residential course and are
R
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
actively working in a management
role on a family farm or commercial
enterprise. Following completion of
the course there is an opportunity
for delegates to receive
accreditation from the Royal
Agricultural University for an
assignment.
The Jordans Farm Partnership is
a unique collaboration of Jordans
farmers, the Wildlife Trusts, LEAF
and The Prince’s Countryside
Fund, working together to bring an
innovative blend of expertise to
benefit the British countryside.
The mentoring will take place
over the next 12 months and focus
on the development needs of the
delegates – this could range from
managing cash flow and
budgeting, to people management,
best farm practice, setting business
objectives and strategic planning.
Claire Saunders, Director of The
Prince’s Countryside Fund said:
“We are delighted to be able to
offer delegates enrolled on Bishop
Burton College’s Farm Business
Management Programme the
chance to learn from experienced
farmers who are supplying to one
of our corporate partners – Jordans
Cereals.
“I hope that this pilot programme
will prove beneficial to all those
involved and pave the way for
future opportunities to collaborate
and support the next generation of
farmers through our networks.”
Chief Executive and Principal of
Bishop Burton College, Bill
Meredith, believes the mentoring
programme will have major benefits
to the industry as a whole:
“This mentorship programme will
provide unparalleled access to
industry experts for the next
generation of farmer, helping them
to not only be guided on how best
to employ their newfound
management skills, but also benefit
from their mentor’s years of
experience.
“What I am so excited about is
that these young farmers are an
incredibly forward-