Coastland College’s Kingston Maurward Campus is developing its farm with new livestock and breeding plans, creating exciting opportunities for agriculture students to gain practical experience and build their skills in animal husbandry, breeding and farm management.
The farm is now managed in-house by Coastland College staff, following the end of its partnership with Velcourt. This marks a new chapter for the farm, building on Kingston Maurward’s agricultural heritage with a continued focus on practical teaching, animal welfare and the development of high-quality breeding stock.
Growing sheep and pig populations, as well as new calves welcomed at the beginning of October, will give students the chance to get involved in the day-to-day work of a working farm, helping them understand the skills, decisions and responsibilities involved in modern livestock production.
Building a flock for the future
The College’s sheep flock has recently grown with the arrival of 30 pedigree Poll Dorset ewes at Kingston Maurward, completing plans for the College flock. They join 82 Suffolk Mule commercial ewes, 14 pedigree Charollais ewe lambs and two pedigree Charollais rams purchased from the renowned Prestleigh flock.
Having different breeds on the farm will give agriculture students the chance to see their characteristics and management needs first-hand, as well as compare the lambs they produce. The Suffolk Mules and Charollais are expected to lamb in spring, while the Poll Dorsets will lamb in autumn. This will give students two lambing periods across the academic year, creating more opportunities to get involved in the lambing shed, build confidence and develop their stockmanship skills.
The Suffolk Mules will form the foundation of the commercial flock, bred with the pedigree Charollais rams to produce high-quality prime lambs. Meanwhile, the pedigree Charollais and Poll Dorset sheep will support the development of a breeding and showing flock, with longer-term plans to produce quality pedigree breeding stock and breed rams for sale through major breeding sales.
The College also aims to achieve high-health, MV-accredited flock status and demonstrate low-input, grass-based sheep production, with a focus on animal health, welfare and efficiency. These practical experiences will help students understand how farmers balance high standards of livestock care with the commercial demands of modern agriculture.
The addition of the Poll Dorset ewes also celebrates the breed’s connection to Dorset’s farming heritage, making them a fitting addition to the Kingston Maurward farm.
Meet Mable and Olive
The farm’s new pig arrivals are two pedigree Saddlebacks, Mable and Olive, purchased from the Silver Birch herd. Their foundation stock originally came from Kingston Maurward in 2017, bringing a connection to the campus’s own agricultural heritage.
The pigs will play a role beyond the farm, helping with woodland management by clearing brambles and other invasive plants. This provides a practical link with the College’s Wildlife, Ecology & Conservation courses, giving students opportunities to explore how livestock can contribute to land management and habitat maintenance.
Getting the site ready for the pigs has also created opportunities for collaboration across curriculum areas. Staff and students in Blacksmithing & Welding are currently working on boundary fences to ensure the pigs have a safe and secure environment, demonstrating how practical skills from different courses can contribute to the wider running of the campus.
The aim is to breed from the pigs twice a year, with agriculture students involved in their husbandry, breeding management and everyday care. There are also plans to exhibit them at agricultural shows, giving students the chance to learn how to prepare and present livestock to a professional standard.
Working with pigs offers a different learning experience from sheep and cattle, helping students develop a broader understanding of livestock behaviour, handling and management across different species.
These experiences help students build confidence, understand industry expectations and develop skills they can take into future employment or further study
Learning beyond the classroom
Practical experience is at the heart of the farm’s development. Rather than learning about livestock production through theory alone, Agriculture students will have opportunities to develop their skills in a real farm environment, supported by College staff.
Marie Taylor, Head of Department for Agriculture at Coastland College, said: “From daily animal care and flock management to breeding, lambing and preparing livestock for shows, these experiences help students build confidence, understand industry expectations and develop skills they can take into future employment or further study.
“As the farm develops, its livestock will continue to support teaching and learning while helping the College work towards high standards of animal health and welfare and the production of quality breeding stock.”
Strengthening links with the farming industry
The College recently welcomed Tim Gelfs, Dorset Chair of the NFU, to Kingston Maurward Estate to see how the farm and agriculture curriculum have developed over the past year.
When Tim first visited last year, his input helped shape the College’s curriculum and plans for the future. It was great to welcome him back and share the progress made since then, including more practical sessions, greater student involvement on the farm and stronger connections with industry.
During the visit, Tim toured the facilities, heard about the changes already in place and discussed plans to give students even more opportunities to develop their practical skills and industry experience.
And there was time for a little friendly competition, too, as Tim put his tractor and trailer skills to the test on the College’s simulators!
The visit reflects Coastland College’s ongoing commitment to working with industry to ensure students gain relevant, practical experience and the skills they need to progress into careers in agriculture.
At Kingston Maurward, the farm remains an important part of the agricultural learning experience, connecting students with the practical realities of the industry and helping them grow the knowledge and confidence to take their next steps in agriculture.
