A reprieve looking likely for Newton Rigg College

Cumbria’s Newton Rigg College, home of one of England’s leading gamekeeping courses, may be saved. The college’s closure looked all but inevitable after a review by Askham Bryan College, Newton-rigg’s parent institution, found that it was not sustainable.

However, following vigorous campaigning the Department for Education has announced that a number of bidders have approached Askham Bryan with a view to taking over the campus ‘for educational purposes’. No details have been disclosed.

Liam Bell, chair of the National Gamekeepers’

Organisation, told Shooting Times: “Colleges such as Newton Rigg, that run gamekeeping and wildlife management courses and train and educate the next generation of gamekeepers, are a vital part of the longterm sustainable future of gamekeeping. The NGO fully supports the efforts to keep the college open.”

Local MP Neil Hudson said: “I am glad that Askham Bryan has agreed to this process, which will allow the FE Commissioner to fully evaluate the exciting proposals for Newton

Rigg. I truly believe it will help in securing a viable and sustainable future for the campus.”

Newton Rigg offers vital courses in game and wildlife management