Open Day returns bigger than ever for Centenary celebrations

The at-capacity event welcomed members of the local community from across Sussex and beyond to discover more about land and environment education while celebrating 100 years of our history, innovation and industry leadership.

Visitors enjoyed a packed programme of entertainment, demonstrations and hands-on activities across the campus and estate. Highlights included a lively main arena featuring a dog and pony comedy show, painted horses demonstrations, and the Plumpton Agriculture Show Team showcasing livestock displays in the main ring.

The event also marked the opening of new facilities, including a brand-new zoo trail featuring lemurs, genet, otters, raccoons and parrots in newly developed enclosures. Animal Studies students delivered engaging keeper talks throughout the day, offering visitors a unique insight into animal management and conservation.

Special exhibits and demonstrations were added to mark the college’s 100^th birthday celebrations. These included a showcase exploring the 100-year history of English wine, as well as a guest discussion on the future of farming featuring regenerative farmer and Plumpton alumnus Joe Graeme of Pasture to Plate alongside Countryfile presenter Adam Henson.

Across the campus, visitors were able to experience forestry demonstrations, jewellery collections, metalwork exhibitions and a specially forged steel centenary wreath. Other attractions included a climbing wall, guided estate walks, angling demonstrations, clay pigeon shooting, historic tractors displayed alongside modern computer diagnostic demonstrations, and a wide range of equine activities where guests could learn about horse movement, physiology and welfare skills such as bandaging, as well as watch dressage, jumping and pole schooling demonstrations in the riding schools.

The Old Plumptonian’s Association and the Plumpton College Charitable Foundation also hosted a special centenary marquee featuring part of the college’s historical exhibition, including archive photographs, historic documents and memorabilia charting Plumpton College’s 100-year journey.

This year’s event was especially significant as Open Day itself celebrated its 50^th anniversary during the college’s centenary year. The event first began in 1976 as a way for the college to open its doors to the local community and celebrate its achievements.

As the daytime event came to a close, visitors were invited to continue the celebrations on the Principal’s Lawn against the backdrop of the South Downs, with live music from The Love Bus and Plumpton Revival offering a preview of the upcoming two-day festival at Plumpton Racecourse on 8–9 August.

Principal Jeremy Kerswell shares:

“Although the landscape of what we do has changed enormously over the last 100 years, our core purpose remains as relevant as ever. There is still a great need to ensure we are producing food for our nation, being custodians of our land and environment, and ensuring skilled new entrants continue to join industries that are so greatly in need.

We have never stood still. From starting with just a handful of students on a poultry course, to training more than 4,500 women from the Women’s Land Army during the Second World War, to now educating more than 5,000 students aged 14 through to adults studying Master’s degree programmes.

Open Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the diversity of what we do, showcase our highly skilled and technical students, and educate the local community about careers and courses in the land and environment sector.”