Department Newsletter
wakefield.ac.uk
Welcome
Greetings from the Horticulture Department here at Wakefield College.
I’m excited to share with you our departmental newsletter—an engaging publication designed to keep you informed about the latest developments, opportunities, and successes from our vibrant horticulture community.
As Deputy Head of Department, I’m constantly inspired by the creativity, passion, and dedication shown by our students and staff. This newsletter is our way of sharing that inspiration and celebrating the work that’s shaping the future of horticulture.
Inside, you’ll find updates on current trends, departmental achievements, and exciting projects. You’ll also read real student stories that highlight the practical, hands-on learning experiences and personal journeys taking place within our courses. These case studies offer a powerful glimpse into what it’s like to grow and thrive in a supportive, innovative learning environment.
To help you get a better sense of what we offer, we’ve also included video links and virtual tours of our facilities—ideal for anyone curious about where these inspiring stories unfold.
Whether you’re passionate about plants, sustainability, or outdoor learning, we hope this newsletter gives you insight into the possibilities and potential within the world of horticulture.
Planting Trees with Grow Wakefield
Students worked alongside Grow Wakefield to plant a series of apple trees at one of their local community gardens in Ferrybridge, bringing over 10 trees which had been reared by the students themselves in our very own Thornes Park Nursery.
Building homes for the bees with Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers
Henry Manwaring Deputy Head of Horticulture
Horticulture students from the College collaborated alongside Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers to help expand and renovate their sites. The students from across various levels got involved in building a wildlife pond, planting hedges and painting beehives and received a jar of fresh honey each for their hard work.
Hear from our Students
Ben
“I really like how hands-on the course is. We get to do a variety of activities such as painting, building and planting in the garden at Thornes Park. The fence building project has been my favourite. I’ve learnt a lot about plants and soils, including their scientific names and woodwork skills. I’m looking forward to our trip to Portugal where we will be working in some gardens. One day, I’d like to start my own landscaping business and this qualification will help me do that.”
Caleb
“I enjoy doing woodwork like the archway and gate projects. We have also been involved in making the compost bins, planting and learning the theory alongside it. I have also learnt soft skills such as listening, communication and confidence. We have been go karting as a class which was really fun and we have also been planting at the Himalayan Gardens.”
Isabel
“I came to Wakefield College because of the good SEND provision. My tutors have been really supportive with my SEND needs. I enjoy the practical elements of the course the most like the woodwork projects where we made bee houses and bird boxes. I’ve also been able to develop skills with tools such as drills and people skills. I would like a job in Horticulture in the future.”
Kevin
“I have learnt about types of plants, how to crop and care for them and how to make different plants. I’ve also done woodwork, like building decking and health and safety skills with tools. We have been on lots of trips such as go karting, tree planting with Open Country and planting flowers in Wakefield town centre. I really enjoy this course and being outside - planting trees and composting are my favourite things to do. In the future, I want a gardening job.”
+ In 2023, the environmental horticulture industry supported the employment of 722,000 jobs in the UK
+ Up to 200 calories are burned by doing 30 minutes of gardening
+ In 2024 environmental horticulture production was valued at £1.7 billion
+ 14.7m2 is the average size of UK domestic gardens (front, back and sides)
+ 85% of UK adults agree gardens and public green spaces benefit their state of mind and 80% their physical health
Source: The Horticultural Trades Association
Thornes Park Updates
See what’s been going on in our Thornes Park Nursery recently…
Hedge Planting
We planted a native hedge to provide additional space for local wildlife.
Apple Pressing
We pressed apples from our orchard to make fresh apple juice! The orchard includes a variety of heritage Yorkshire apples such as Yorkshire Greening, Green Balsam and Dog’s Snout, all of which were planted within the last five years.
Woodwork Projects
Students built a sheltered seating area, making fence panels from pallets and setting up a mobile woodwork bench during construction.
Horticulture
Garden Tour Video
Nest Boxes
Students made nest boxes from logs to help encourage local wildlife.
Harvesting Rainwater
Students helped install an IBC container to collect rainwater from the nearby shelter.
Tour our Horticulture Department and garden area at Thornes Park Nursery with tutor Richard.
Group Secures Number One Spot for FE College Achievement Rates in the Region
The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has ranked first in Yorkshire & the Humber for student achievement amongst General Further Education Colleges, also securing fifth place nationally.
This highly impressive result follows a strong performance across the Group’s 16–18 provision, with the latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs) for 2024/2025 confirming the Group as the region’s highest-performing FE college for learners aged under 19.
In addition to this success, the Group also achieved fourth place regionally for Apprenticeship achievement rates, further highlighting its strength across further education and skills training.
The results position the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and its three colleges – Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College - as having the best achievement results of all further education colleges in Yorkshire & the Humber region and being the fifth top-performing further education college in England, reflecting the quality of teaching, support and student outcomes delivered across its campuses and programmes.
The NARTs are key summary indicators of performance in education and training and apprenticeships and demonstrate the percentage of students that were awarded their qualifications. Published annually, the national tables rank over 150 colleges.
I am so proud of this phenomenal accolade. Being ranked first in the region for our 16-18 achievement rates and fifth nationally is something we are incredibly proud of and reflects both the ambition of our students and the quality of education and support across the Group. These results are a true reflection of the dedication and care shown by our staff, who go above and beyond every day to help our learners succeed academically, grow as individuals and move forward with confidence into their next steps.”
Sam Wright Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
OPEN EVENTS
OCTOBER 2026
MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM
Castleford College
WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM
Wakefield College
NOVEMBER 2026
SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER: 10AM-12PM
Wakefield College and Castleford College
FEBRUARY 2027
WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM
Wakefield College and Castleford College
Combining Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group saw outstanding pass rates in 2024/2025, with Selby College securing a 99% pass rate across its A Level programmes and Wakefield College a 98%. Castleford College and Wakefield College also achieved an impressive 100% pass rate for their T Level courses.
A significant number of its learners also progressed onto employment or higher education, including Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and many more.
Across its colleges, the Group offers a broad range of 16–18 study programmes, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational and technical courses. It also delivers a wide variety of apprenticeships, designed to reflect local labour market needs and support learners into meaningful careers.
