Westlake is moving forward ever faster thanks to a budding partnership with Reaseheath College.
Students from Reaseheath, one of the UK’s leading specialist land-based colleges, have been working on the Westlake site, helping to construct a polytunnel and animal shelters and make progress on our kitchen gardens.
But now the partnership will be bearing fruit in more ways than one, as horticulture students from the college have planned and have begun planting an orchard of apple, pear and plum trees on the site.
The relationship between Westlake and Reaseheath came together by chance when Westlake co-owner David Haycocks contacted them for advice on a land management matter.
David visited the Nantwich college and was impressed by the specialist facilities and resources on offer. He then invited assistant principal Sarah Houghton to make a trip to Westlake to see for herself how our autism-friendly equine therapy project was taking shape.
David said: “Reaseheath is doing a superb job of helping those who want training and qualifications for a land-based career and the more we talked the more it became clear that we could help each other by offering students the chance to gain practical experience working on our land.
“Westlake is essentially a blank canvas for the students and they have responded brilliantly to the opportunity to put some of their classroom-based learning to use. One of the most exciting things they have done recently is draw up designs for a new orchard, which they are now staking up in readiness to plant.
“The orchard will be a beautiful, fully accessible place to visit and a wonderful legacy for those who took part in its design and planting. They can be so proud of what they are achieving.”
Reaseheath assistant principal Sarah Houghton said: “The college is continually looking for ways to enhance our resources and so to have developed this relationship is a very positive move, especially as Westlake is such a community-collaborative, inclusive project.”
“The orchard is just one of the exciting learning experiences that students will be involved with. It’s great that they have the chance to learn and put their learning to use on a wider range of landscapes.”