Young People To Learn About The Great Outdoors

Local young people are being given the chance to move a step closer to a growing range of exciting careers in the great outdoors, thanks to an upcoming event.

Bath College’s Somer Valley Campus (formerly Norton Radstock College) is hosting a Landbased Open Day on Saturday 18th April.

It’s an opportunity to find out about careers in animal care, arboriculture, horticulture, equine care and veterinary nursing by discussing the options with expert staff, meeting students and viewing the College’s fantastic facilities.

Staff are keen to help match young people to the huge range of careers available within the environmental conservation and technology sector.

The College’s first Landbased Open Day will feature a whole host of hands-on activities, including the chance to learn the basics of handling animals, wood carving, tree climbing and bandaging animals.

Head of Department Jayne Withers said the College was proud of its wide range of Level 1 to 3 landbased courses which all include related industry work placements.

She said: “It’s going to be a very hands-on open day because we want people to be fully aware of the wide range of courses we offer.

“We want to show everyone how different landbased courses can lead to very specialist careers.

“These are courses for people who don’t want to be tied to an office; they want to work in the landbased and environmental industries.

“We’ve got really strong links with employers and students go on to have amazing careers, working in jobs from tree surgeons to zoo keepers.”

She added: “We’re looking forward to the future; big things are planned for landbased as we strive to make the College a centre of excellence.”

Sam White, who is studying Level 3 Equine Studies at Bath College, wasn’t sure what she wanted to do until she discovered how enjoyable it was to work with horses.

The 19 year-old of Radstock said: “I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was at school. I’d done horse-riding when I was younger but hadn’t really thought about it as a career.

“I started a hairdressing course just because that’s what some of my friends were doing. But hairdressing wasn’t for me; I’m much more suited to being outside.

“Doing Equine Studies has been amazing; I love everything about the course. I’ve learnt loads and can’t wait to put it all into practice.”

Sam combines classroom and practical learning with her work placement at HorseWorld, where she helps to teach Level 1 and 2 College students.

She added: “I hope to go on to teach riding as being with horses is just so therapeutic. Horses are just so calming, they have their own personalities and you have to take the time to get to know them.

“I’d recommend working outdoors to others, there are so many possibilities.”

Bath College student Sam Bevan hopes to keep alive his family tradition of working as a tree surgeon. He is studying Level 2 Forestry and Arboriculture and is keen to start up his own business.

Sam, 19, of Glastonbury said: “My family inspired me to study arboriculture. A lot of my relatives are tree surgeons so I hope to do the same as them.

“It’s a career most people don’t know much about, they think it’s just climbing trees but there’s so much more to it. It’s a very technical job and the learning never stops.

“I’ve got a passion for trees; I really enjoy learning about all the different species. I’m hoping to start up my own business.”

Every is invited to attend the Landbased Open Day at Bath College’s Somer Valley Campus, South Hill Park Road, Westfield, on Saturday, April 18 from 10am to 1pm.