As site preparation works for the flagship National College for Nuclear begin at Bridgwater and Taunton College’s Cannington Centre, the help of local residents is very much needed in salvaging as many flowering herbaceous perennials & ornamental grasses as possible, including Hedgehog Cone Flowers and New Zealand Wind Grasses.

The National College for Nuclear (NCfN) will spearhead technical and professional training for the nuclear sector’s future workforce, across power generation, medicine and defence. Cannington will be home to the southern hub, a joint venture between EDF Energy, the University of Bristol and Bridgwater and Taunton College, and featuring cutting edge technology to create ‘live’ nuclear training environments. The Government’s investment in NCfN is substantial, and offers young people fantastic opportunities for education and employment with global blue-chip companies regionally, nationally and internationally.

Necessary drainage improvements on and around the NCfN site mean that most of the plants that currently brighten up the main entrance to the College in Rodway will need to be removed. Staff at the College have already donated many of them to Cannington in Bloom and hope that Cannington’s keen gardeners will come along this weekend and help themselves to as many more as they can feasibly re-home.  

Bridgwater and Taunton College’s Assistant Principal for Land-based, Business and Sports, Jason Gunningham said,

“Once the build is completed we will work with our Land-based students to plant an additional 80 trees and landscape the Centre completely. In the meantime, we hope to preserve the majority of the existing plants by offering them free of charge to local residents.”

The plants will be on offer at the main entrance to Bridgwater and Taunton College’s Cannington Centre on Rodway from 10am on Saturday 15 October, and again at 10am on Sunday 16 October if any plants remain, and will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like more information about professional and technical training at the National College for Nuclear, or are an employer looking for workforce training please contact the Business Development team on 01278 655111 or email business@bridgwater.ac.uk.