• Major Facilities at Bicton College

    1. Set in 25 hectares of mature parkland
    2. 166 hectare farm estate
    3. Welding workshop
    4. Engineering workshops
    5. Animal care centre
    6. Veterinary centre
    7. Stables
    8. Kennels
    9. Arboretum
    10. Learning resources centre
    11. Library
    12. Floodlit pitch-hard court
    13. Swimming pool
    14. Fitness room
    15. High ropes course/climbing wall
    16. 5 acre lake
    17. Sports pitches
    18. Formal gardens
    19. Glasshouses

    Agriculture / Engineering

    1. "Home Farm" – a 166Ha College farm
    2. Cattle: Spring-calving dairy herd of 185 cows plus followers – mainly Jersey/Holstein cross
    3. Pedigree Ruby Red Devons - 5
    4. Sheep: 150 Mule ewes and 50 pedigree Texel ewes
    5. Pedigree Devon Suckler herd
    6. Pigs: 9 Camborough sows, 1 boar - outdoor herd and indoor finishing.
    7. 24:48 Milking Parlour
    8. Range of cereal and forage crops
    9. Welding and Fabrication Workshop
    10. Service and Repair Workshops
    11. Power Unit Workshop
    12. Diagnostic Testing Equipment (for Electronics, Hydraulics and Transmissions)
    13. Extensive range of Land-based Machinery
    14. Cropping
      • National Institute of Botany - variety trials for winter barley
      • National Institute of Botany -variety trials for maize
      • ADAS - mitrate leaching project
      • Mole Avon Forage variety trials
    15. Industry Links
      • 136.6 Ha permanent and ley grassland
      • 14Ha maize for silage
      • 8.9Ha wheat for silage
      • 4.5Ha barley for silage
      • 2.4Ha arable trials
    16. Demonstration Events
      • McHale Machinery Demonstration
      • Kverneland Machinery Demonstration
      • ADAS Locomotion scoring in Cattle Demonstration
      • St Devids Vets/DEFRA Health Planning Demonstration

    Animal Care

    1. Tropical House; wide selection of amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and chelonia
    2. Mammal House; domestic rodents, lagomorphs, chinchillas and degus
    3. Rescued ringtail and black lemurs and coatis
    4. Invertebrate House (including tarantulas)
    5. Aviary; large selection of captive birds and poultry
    6. Aquarium House; large selection of cold, tropical, marine and brackish water species
    7. Dog grooming parlour; 4 kennels and 3 isolation kennels, baths, grooming tables and driers
    8. Science Laboratories
    9. College Farm
    10. Stables
    11. Kennels; 9 double kennels and exercise area, including an extensive range of agility equipment
    12. Veterinary Surgery; comprising an X ray room, sterilisation room, prep and theatre room and dispensary
    13. Industry Links
      • RSPCA - many of the animals in the collection are from the society
      • Blue cross for work experience
      • Donkey Sanctuary
      • RSPCA West Hatch wildlife rehabilitation centre
      • Police Dog Training Unit
      • Paignton Zoo
      • Exmoor Zoo
      • Raddenstiles Veterinary Surgery
      • Cats Protection
      • Abbotskerwell Veterinary Services

    Countryside

    1. Extensive grounds, with an arboretum, woodland, farm and a wide range of managed habitats
    2. Access to forestry plantations for practical chainsaw work
    3. Excellent contacts with the industry; the RSPB, National Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, East Devon District Council’s Coast and Countryside Service and local landowners
    4. Husqvarna UK support programmes by providing discounted equipment for students, educational materials and awards

    Equine

    1. British Horse Society (BHS) registered exam and training centre (up to BHS I level)
    2. Horses; 20 loan horses of varying abilities for riding and 19 full livery for stable management training
    3. Stables; 39 - these are based on two seperate yards, one of the American barn design and the other being external loose boxes
    4. Arenas; 1 x 20x40m indoor arena with mirrors, gallery and jump store and 1 x 30x60m international size outdoor arena with 2 judges boxes
    5. Showjumping; 1 full set of BSJA standard show jumps including water trays
    6. X Country; schooling paddock up to 3ft 6", portable X country jumps available
    7. Hacking; free access to Woodbury Common for limitless off road riding to include gallop and hill work. All road work is on quiet country lanes. Plenty of opportunity to access natural water such as streams and ford crossings
    8. Sandy beach within 5 miles
    9. Grazing paddocks; 4Ha of paddocks
    10. Other resources: horse walker, equine weighbridge, hard level Trot up surface of 70m approximately, heart rate monitor, lorry park, solarium and hot shower for horses
    11. Industry Links
      • British Dressage affiliated venue
      • David Broom show jumping venue
      • Pony Club camp and training venue
      • Competition venue for 3 local riding clubs
      • Sue Petty dressage clinics (list 1 judge)
      • Clare Sansom Fellow of the BHS and examiner
      • Sarah Prew List 4 British Dressage judge and talent spotter
      • Bicton Arena
      • St Davids Equine Practice

    Floristry

    1. Highly innovative, qualified, friendly staff
    2. Close links with local employers

    Horticulture

    1. English Heritage Grade 1 listed landscape
    2. Formal gardens; extensive plant collections including the national collection of Pittosporum and important other collections of agapanthus, camellias, cherries, eucalyptus and magnolias
    3. Arboretum; created in the 1820s containing many mature and unusual species and a significant number of 'Champion' trees. A large number of specimens collected by the Veitch plant hunters
    4. Walled kitchen gardens; 1Ha and 0.5Ha
    5. Historic parkland; 25Ha containing many specimen of mature native tree species and the longest avenue of monkey puzzle trees in Europe containing many rare lichen and home to a wide range of fauna
    6. Glasshouses; 100m2 of heated glass containing tropical and house plant species. 200m2 of unheated glass utilised for propogation. 100m2 of poly tunnel
    7. Sport turf; 3Ha of football, hockey, rugby and cricket pitches
    8. Orchards; 2Ha of mature fruit orchards
    9. Lake; 3.6Ha of freshwater lake
    10. Alder Grove; wet woodland area including wildlife pond and managed coppice area. Wildlife trails and board walks
    11. Conservation areas; numerous areas of diverse conservation value have been established around the grounds and farmed areas
    12. Forestry; easy access to extensive areas of hard and soft wood forestry in various states of maturity
    13. Industry Links
      • Devon knotweed forum
      • Plant Network
      • RHS exam centre
      • Conifer and bamboo society

    Outdoor Leisure

    1. 5-acre lake
    2. High and low ropes course and climbing wall
    3. Swimming pool
    4. Tennis hardcourt
    5. Football, hockey, rugby and cricket pitches
    6. Orienteering courses (under construction)
    7. Boat House
    8. Devon countryside, rivers and sea

    Foundation Learning

    1. E3 Cafe
    2. Orienteering Courses (under construction)