MK College’s Horticulture Centre celebrates ten years of supporting students with additional needs
Milton Keynes College’s Horticulture Centre is celebrating ten years of teaching work skills around the care of plants, trees and animals for inclusive learners. Over that decade, dozens of young people have been taught the key techniques needed to give them the knowledge to land jobs in the sector, and to gain City & Guilds Qualification in Animal Care & Horticulture. They also learn to improve their teamwork, confidence and communication skills.
The centre’s gardens are a haven for local wildlife and pollinators and have been designed and expanded by a dedicated team of staff and students so that all their efforts are framed by the need for sustainability, reusing and recycling. For example, animal food waste and garden scraps are composted, and waste water from the centre’s aquatic collection is used to water the new orchard.
At the centre’s celebration event on 28th June, supporters, parents and carers and college staff were invited to explore the Centre’s gardens and animal centre to see the hard work and effort put in by the Inclusive Learning students. The celebration also included a sale of plants, cakes, savoury snacks and teas and coffees provided by the Work & Learn and Catering students with the proceeds helping to buy specialist equipment for the Centre. Plus, there were stalls from supporters including the Parks Trust and Oakgrove School’s Bee Club with fun activities for guests to enjoy.
Course Team Leader, Libby Liassis, says, “Our Horticulture Centre includes a specialist Reptile and Aquatics Centre which provides our students with some amazing opportunities to work with a wide variety of animals including a tortoise, bearded dragon, tree frog and axolotls. Learners also have weekly work experience at the Inclusive Farm in Flitwick where they learn key skills with farm animals. We’ve got a wildlife garden, swamp pond and dry gardens along with specialist raised beds for vegetables and herbs.
“Students enjoy a wide variety of accessible and interactive garden spaces, which is great for their wellbeing, but it’s also an environment in which they can pick up those genuine skills which lead, hopefully not just to a qualification but also to a job after their time with us.”
One of the students, Isaac, says, “I have learnt how to look after the animals independently so when I come back next year I will know how to feed and clean them. I have learnt how to identify plants and tools and how to maintain them. I am looking forward to coming back to college next year to look after the animals and the gardens and to learn more things.”
Fellow student, Laone, says, “My favourite part of the gardens that I helped to create was the Wildlife Area. We reused lots of different items from around the garden area and some donations of used sleepers from the construction department. I like this garden as we get lots of bees and butterflies.”
Most of the equipment and many of the features of the centre have been donated or refurbished on site. The Inclusive Learning department is always looking for more supporters to help provide equipment, funding for facilities, etc. If you can help, please contact: Elizabeth.Liassis@mkcollege.ac.uk