| 2013-05-31 |    |
Agricultural students and apprentices at Newton Rigg College are hard at work with the sheep shearing programme well underway.
Over the course of the coming weeks, the students will shear around 2,000 sheep as part of their studies at the Penrith based college.
Alice Nixon, of Abbeytown, Arthur Cottingham, of Rosley and Clare Dent, Haydon Bridge, agricultural students at Newton Rigg College shearing at Peter Hetherington's farm at Greenquarries, Welton.
Jamie Brownrigg, Course Tutor said: "We have about 80 students in total, which includes our full time diploma students and our apprentices. It's an important part of their studies to gain these valuable skills to equip them for the agricultural industry.
He added: "In all, they will shear about 2,000 sheep, and it's certainly hard physical work but it's a great opportunity for them to enhance their practical skills and experience with a "full on" shearing day.
"Part of the shearing programme takes place at our own college farm, which stocks Swaledales, Cheviots and Mules.
Prior to that, the students were shearing at Peter Hetherington's farm at Greenquarries, Welton. Peter has supported Newton Rigg with this valuable resource for the past 30 years for which we are most grateful."
