To school across the fields of Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a county of rolling green downs and dense woodlands, steeped in history and some outstanding prehistoric remains — Stonehenge and Avebury being the most notable. The magnificent cathedral at Salisbury bears testament to the areas religious significance since medieval times.
I have always loved visiting — Marlborough in particular — where family members of mine have lived for a number of years. So when I got the opportunity to have a week there before everyone resumed the imminent back- to -school pace of life, it was an opportunity not to be missed.
There was also the added attraction that the weather has been pretty good in this neck of the woods. But then, let’s face it, after our own dismal summer even a few hours of decent weather can make us slightly delirious and want to start firing up the Barbie and lathering on the sun screen.
Marlborough is one of those picture postcard perfect small English town, full of black and white timbered buildings, a wide central street and lots of very expensive shops selling home and kitchen ware. There’s a strong tradition of horse racing, eventing and breeding in these parts and it’s not unusual when out for a walk in the country to suddenly come across a high gated property whose walls and neatly trimmed hedges seem to go on for miles. There are gallops to be peeked at through the hedges and rumours of sheikhs with unlimited funds and a love for fine horse flesh. And yet, turn a corner and you may well come across a prehistoric burial site, huge, precariously balanced stones with names like The Devil’s Cauldron.
Wiltshire is a county of contrasts and its roots in farming go deep. Today many of the farms have been enlarged considerably and resemble prairie-type enterprises which require massive machinery to manage. But there are small holdings too, and plenty of locally grown produce to be had in the market place on Fair Days.
There is also an excellent agricultural college which has hosted several Irish students in recent years. Lackham Agricultural College was founded in those dark days after the Second World War when food was in desperately short supply and young men were being encouraged to embrace the land and grow for Britain.
As August gives way to September the academic year is just getting going at Lackham with students and tutor getting to know each other as new arrivals begin to find their way around. There’s a three-day grace period when induction takes place, then it’s time to hit the ground running and tackle the academic workload and the varied practical tasks that each student has to accomplish.
“It’s a telling time, when students have to start thinking for themselves and take responsibility for their own studies and their part in the running of the college’s estate,” says tutor Robin Jackson. And, of course, from a farming perspective, autumn is a time of new beginnings too. At Lackham the students have gathered in the final harvest of maize and lupines’ and are beginning to prepare the land for next year’s crops.
Engineering skills feature heavily in the curriculum and the students get a chance to show off their ability in ploughing matches against other colleges and clubs.
“We have a good track record to uphold,” campus director Ian Revill points out. “Lackham has the unofficial world record for tractor stripping. In fact, we beat the Irish champions earlier this year” And apart from tractor stripping events in the engineering department, there’s plenty for the other students to be getting on with. The college maintains a dairy herd of 140 Friesians, 30 Limousin X heifers, and a flock of 240-plus sheep. In addition, there are part- and full-time courses available on various agricultural skills such as chainsaw management, conservation and estate management and horticulture.
Another source of pride at Lackham is that they held the world record for the largest lemon ever grown which clocked in at a hearty 10lb 9oz! And recently, a disused greenhouse has been transformed using the expertise of students to create savannah-like and tropical conditions to suit the latest of their arrivals — lizards, terrapins and the purple-throated crow. And since diversification is the name of the game in farming, Lackham House, a stately Georgian structure also does an elegant line in weddings.
Tim Burns, a 21-year-old from Cork, is one of several Irish students at Lackham. Tim, who has a passion for agricultural machinery, hails from a farming background in West Cork, and is full of praise for the college.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever done,” he says. “The agricultural courses are fantastic and the lecturers can’t do enough for you. They’d give you the shirt off their backs. ” “The rural industry is bucking the trend” campus director Ian Revill says. “There are plenty of jobs and many of our students have several options to choose from when they leave.”
Before I left I spoke to Lackham’s information officer Stephanie Stephenson.
>>“That’s right. Our students are demanding and enterprising. They want Higher Education and University options as well as the traditional further education courses we offer. Today farmers are positively encouraging their children to study.”
>>“No, not at all. The student intake this year indicates that we now have an equal male to female ratio and a similar split between those from farming and non-farming backgrounds. And we have seen a growing proportion of mature students and those who are looking for a change. With the recession, some people are using their redundancy money to invest in a change to a more meaningful career, working with wildlife or perhaps gamekeeping. And as for age, we have students as young as sixteen and there’s no upper age limit.”
>>“No, we have students from all over the British isles. What we offer here is a solid education, a variety of specialist courses and a real out-of-doors classroom which exists in the real world and is subject to the same challenges of weather, weeds, pests, diseases and price fluctuations as everyone else has to contend with. We are a showcase for the agricultural industry and we have many visitors, everyone from government ministers to primary school children. Our goal is that they leave with a greater understanding of the complexities and opportunities of modern farming.”
>>“Well, we offer our students a strong support network and we liaise very closely with local businesses which are important in our area and to the agricultural community so that we are always sure of being relevant. And our courses often lead to employment. Agriculture is more important in all our lives than ever so it’s become increasingly important that people are properly trained to avail of the many opportunities that are available. A degree from Lackham gives a graduate a great start. ”
