Earning his Spurs - Pitchcare

Stewart has built relationships with manufacturers such as Etesia ... and Blec
the last eight at Hartpury. He has an
NVQ Level 3 in Sports Turf. Ryan
Duggan has six years service and has
completed an NVQ Level 2 and 3 in
Sports Turf. Steve Lane has been a
gardener at Hartpury for five years and
has completed an NVQ Level 2 in
Amenity Horticulture and is now working
toward an NVQ Level 2 in Sports Turf.
A team of gardeners look after the 200
hectare site for the equestrian school,
orchard, accommodation environment,
areas of open space and gardens, the
fishing lake and also assist on the threeday
cross-country event course. Students,
as part of their studies, regularly work
alongside the team on maintenance
operations. The team also assist the
lecturers on ‘practicals’ wherever possible
- weather conditions allowing. “It is a
very compelling and positive place to
work” says Stewart.
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The garden team is run by acting
supervisor, Matthew Newman, who has
been a gardener at Hartpury for six
years. He holds an NVQ Level 2 and 3 in
Amenity Horticulture. Len Hingston has
been with the college for five years, and
Richard Coburn for seven years. They
both have NVQ Level 2 and 3 in
Amenity Horticulture. David Bicker, has
18 months service and has an NVQ Level
2 in Amenity Horticulture.
There are two trainees, Henry King
and Dan Bickers, both of whom are
studying towards an NVQ Level 2 in
Amenity Horticulture.
Machinery
“When I arrived at Hartpury the
machinery was of a ‘different standard’ to
what I was used to, says Stewart “and,
whilst still working well, was a little
outdated. So, having worked with
companies like Etesia, Dennis, BLEC,
Makita, Stihl, Reco and Merlo at Askham
Bryan, I approached these companies
again and explained our needs in terms
of the maintenance environment and the
needs of the students. Working within my
budgets, and utilising the relationships I
had forged with these companies, I
managed to improve the fleet, which has,
in turn, increased the department’s
productivity and the machinery’s
reliability to a standard which is more
acceptable.”
“As a result of these relationships, we
have been loaned equipment which we
can use as a department. It also allows
the students to carry out basic
maintenance tasks so that they become
confident and familiar with these
manufacturers and their brands.”
“In return for the loan equipment, we
offer the facilities as an event space for
SPORTS FIELD CONSTRUCTION•
SYNTHETIC SURFACES•
HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING•
CRICKET WICKETS AND OUTFIELD•
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE•
FENCING AND SECURITY•
CIVIL ENGINEERING•
LAND DRAINAGE•
PLANT HIRE/TRACTOR HIRE•
www.cleveland-land-services.co.uk tel: 01642 488328