The Shipley Campus of Walford and North Shropshire College threw open its doors to welcome year 11 pupils from local schools to its first Taster Day on 18th of November this year.

Georgina Edwards from Meole Brace School, currently on the 14-16 programme at WNSC

The campus, which is on Bridgnorth Road adjacent to the Gardenlands Centre, also held an Open Day on November 19th to allow visitors from all walks of life the opportunity to view its facilities and find out more about what it has to offer.

On both days the campus took the opportunity to showcase its impressive new Animal Care facilities with special guest Simon Airey of Corner Exotics giving fascinating and informative talks about the exotic animals he works with. These talks were extremely well received by the visitors who were encouraged to handle and raise questions about the creatures that he brought along with him.

A surprising number of very brave visitors took the opportunity to get close to animals such as snakes and cockroaches. Georgina Hughes, a pupil from Charlton School, commented, “I’ve learnt a lot today. It’s been great and it’s given me a lot more confidence around animals as well.”

Marshall Harris, a pupil of Lord Silkin School, added, ‘I’ve loved the taster day. The best bit was holding the snake!’

Georgina Hughes, left, and Hayley Price from Charlton School

The college has invested heavily in the campus in order to create the new custom-built animal care facility which is now very near completion. It is expected that the area, which includes enclosures such as vivariums, paddocks and an aviary, will be fully occupied by Easter 2012. Among the new residents will be snakes, lizards, chinchillas, rabbits, Pygmy goats, a variety of exotic birds and a range of other rare breeds.

Animal Care is a new Curriculum area for the Shipley campus which is already a well- established provider of top-class childcare and ICT courses.

Anyone who would like a tour of the campus, or who would like to find out more about courses at Shipley, is invited to contact Kathryn on 01902 709840 or email k.blaney@wnsc.ac.uk For more information about all courses at Walford and North Shropshire College please visit the website at www.wnsc.ac.uk