High Sheriff officiates official opening of the NR Training School of Horticulture at Lowther Castle & Gardens

“Today we are seeing a new entity emerging with a bright new future” (David Beeby, The High Sheriff of Cumbria)

There was excitement on Friday 3rd of September as the official opening of NR Training’s School of Horticulture took place at Lowther Castle & Gardens, where new courses in horticulture and garden design will be delivered - starting this month.

A crowd gathered to celebrate the opening which was officiated by David Beeby, The High Sheriff of Cumbria, whose partner has recently enrolled on one of NR Training’s new horticulture courses at Lowther.

In his address, the High Sheriff celebrated that “We are starting to see the Phoenix rise from the ashes of Newton Rigg College. Newton Rigg College was first established in 1896. Today we are seeing a new entity emerging with a bright new future.”

The High Sheriff thanked the directors of Newton Rigg Ltd for their huge efforts in creating the new future, as well as Andrew Counsell and Dr Jane Sullivan, the “driving forces behind NR Training”. He also thanked the NR Training School of Horticulture team - Shelagh Todd (Head of Horticulture) and tutors Louise Stoddart, Lyn Brunette and Jay Barker for their work in establishing the new range of courses in Horticulture and Garden Design.