The School of Animal Management and Saddlery at Capel Manor College has been renamed The Princess Royal College of Animal Management and Saddlery, London.

State-of-the-art

The purpose-built £3.6 million complex in Enfield, Essex will offer state-of-the-art resources to benefit all Capel Manor College’s animal management and saddlery students based at the college’s various centres in and around London.

Honour

College principal Dr Steve Dowbiggin OBE said, “We are delighted by this honour; it really gives Capel students kudos. We know we are one of the best colleges in the country but this underpins that. The renaming of our school of animal management and saddlery recognises the interest shown by Her Royal Highness in this aspect of our activities. She has given us great encouragement to invest in this area over the years ensuring that Londoners have access to the best facilities in the country if they are interested in studying animal management, saddlery or related industries.”

Continuing development

Construction has just finished on the new complex, which will provide over 1,000m² of modern learning space which includes reptile and exotic animal housing, laboratories, classrooms, a dog grooming parlour and a teaching veterinary unit. The new building will be integrated within a two-acre landscaped complex housing animals from all over the world in eco zones representing their natural habitat. The new facilities are part of continuing developments across Capel Manor College’s animal management provision, which has already seen a £1.5 million investment in the future of its students in this area.

The Princess Royal receiving a posy from a Level 2 floristry student

Best in the world

Vice Principal, Malcolm Goodwin said: “These new facilities will give those studying at Capel Manor College vocational opportunities equal to the best in the world - our horticultural, floristry and garden design facilities are already second to none and this – along with the new centre for the School of Arboriculture and Countryside Management will mean that everyone lucky enough to study at Capel Manor will have access to a unique experience.”

Nationally recognised qualifications

Capel Manor College offers full and part time courses which lead to nationally recognised qualifications that support progression on to employment or further study. Courses include: horticulture, animal care and management, groundsmanship, garden design, floristry, balloon artistry, saddlery, arboriculture, countryside management or the environment.

More information and contact details

To find out more about courses run at Capel manor College, have a look at their website.