Work starts on college’s £2m dairy unit (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Work starts on college’s £2m dairy unit
12:42pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Farming
DELIGHTED: Liz Philip, college chief executive, at the controls of the digger with college principal Wes Johnson and agriculture students Rebecca Dobson, (left) and Natalie Errington
WORK has begun on building a new £2m dairy unit at Newton Rigg College, Penrith.
The modern unit for 250 cows is being built at the college’s Sewborwens Farm. The college lost its original herd in the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic.
“When Newton Rigg became part of the Askham Bryan College family back in August 2011, we promised to bring back the cows and return agriculture to the heart of the college, so this is a hugely important day for the region’s farmers as well as the college,” said Liz Philip, chief executive.
“Seeing the diggers here is a wonderful sight and is the culmination of months of anticipation, planning and sheer hard work.”
The unit is part of a £3m development plan, which will also see the creation of the National Centre for the Uplands at the college’s hill farm, and a re-configuration and upgrade of the lecture rooms and administration offices on the campus.
The unit comprises two buildings – one entirely of cubicles for the milking herd, with the other housing the parlour. The emphasis is on minimising endemic disease and ensuring maximum cattle health and comfort.
Observation galleries will be included with solar panels and rainwater collection assisting in the practical teaching of environmental studies.
Governors Alan Bowe of the H&H Group and David Black, Cumbrian vet, played a major role in formulating the plans, working with Mrs Philip, college principal Wes Johnson and farm manager, Jonathan Fisher.
