Huts for flamingos and meerkats will be built at Hopwood Hall College

A new flamingo shelter, meerkat building and cattery will all be built as part of an agricultural expansion at Hopwood Hall College.

The Middleton campus, which sits in the shadows of the Grade II listed Hopwood Hall Chapel, is well regarded for its animal handling courses - and these latest plans seek to boost their curriculum. Alongside the animal specific buildings, proposals also include a polytunnel, four field shelters as well as extensions to the existing classroom buildings.

In order to make room for the new facilities, the alpaca shelter, meerkat shelter and a changing block will need to be demolished.

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The Middleton campus, based on Rochdale Road, is one of two campuses that offer animal care courses, with the other located in Smallbridge. Middleton focuses on delivery of animal nursing and animal care technical programmes for smaller creatures whereas Smallbridge focuses on more agricultural animals with essential practical sessions for all of our students from entry level to Higher Education.

They are prepared for working in the animal industry areas such as zookeeping, pet care services, animal welfare organisations, veterinary practice and wildlife and conservation. Students also benefit from commercial experience in our day boarding kennel which is operated in term time only and our cattery which is operated for the Blue Cross animal rescue and rehoming organisation.

A spokesperson for Hopwood Hall College said: “The college’s Animal Management provision continues to attract more and more learners from across Greater Manchester and we have plans in place to grow this provision still further with