News from producers around Derbyshire

A group of 35 volunteers who help to restore and maintain the historic gardens at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus are busy creating an exhibit, designed by head gardener Samantha Harvey, for the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in June.

The volunteers have been working alongside Broomfield Hall’s Samantha Harvey to restore and develop the Victorian gardens to their former glory with increasing the collection of plants, shrubs and semi mature trees.

Students at Derby College’s Roundhouse campus have joined forces to stage a creative event to raise money for two local charities.

Business students organised a catwalk event as part of their study programme which showcased the skills of the Media Make Up students who created designs inspired by the film Mad Max.

More than 100 pupils from schools across Derby and Derbyshire have graduated from vocational study programmes at Derby College.

Pupils were joined by more than 100 guests, including their families, teachers and head teachers from the schools for the Pre-16 graduation ceremony at Derby College’s the Roundhouse campus in Pride Park to celebrate their success. 

Following the huge success of its inaugural events, The Roundhouse Events team, part of the Derby College Group based at the historic Roundhouse, Pride Park, are celebrating two iconic Meryl Streep movies with two special screenings and after-film parties.

The beautiful Roundhouse will be turned into an indoor cinema on Friday June 15 for a one-off showing of ‘Devil Wears Prada’ – a favourite amongst fashion fans of all ages.  Then on Saturday June 16 – the giant screen will show ‘Mamma Mia’ – a must for all Abba devotees.

An Animal Care lecturer at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall has won international recognition for her pioneering research into the benefits of human-animal interactions with cheetahs.

Stacey Higgs (27) from Nottingham applied to the recent World Academy Science, Engineering and Technology conference held in Singapore for permission to present her MA Anthrozoology dissertation on the controversial subject.

Animal Care learners at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall will mark National Hedgehog Week with the release of four animals back into the wild on Tuesday May 8

The four hedgehogs have spent the winter at Broomfield Hall being cared for by the students.  Having now increased in weight and health, they are ready to be released.

The young female hedgehogs, Pickles and Nibbles, came to Broomfield Hall from a wildlife hospital in October as they were too small to hibernate.

Derby College student Frances Porter has won the bronze medal in the grand final of the annual Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition held at the recent Harrogate Spring Flower Show.

Frances (22) from Matlock is a level three student at Broomfield Hall and earned a place in the prestigious national final after coming second in the regional heat which was hosted by Derby College.

A group of Derby College students with their sights set on working in the travel and tourism industry have recently returned from Lapland where they gained valuable work experience at some of the area's top tourism venues.

The students are working towards their Level three Travel and Tourism and Aviation qualifications and joined the two-week trip to Kemi under the College's international study exchange programme funded by the European Union's Erasmus Plus programme.

Derby College’s residential accommodation for students who live at the Broomfield Hall campus has again been praised by Ofsted inspectors and graded ‘outstanding’.

Ofsted Inspectors visited last month – scrutinising the overall experiences and progress of young people, how well they are helped and protected and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

Donut Creative Arts Studio (DCAS) and Fairplay in Chesterfield are hosting a creative family event on 16^th June called ‘The Big Family Fest’. The day will include lots of fantastic creative activities such as jewellery making, drumming workshops and face painting. There will be live music and performances from local groups/performers, food and refreshments plus stalls for local makers and vendors. It will be a great day for all and free to attend!

If you have any questions or would like a stall please contact Becky Parker on;