Hartpury Animal has been granted the Animal Activities Licence (AAL) for ‘Keeping or Training Animals for Exhibition’ by the Forest of Dean council. The certification confirms Hartpury’s commitment to the highest standards of animal care and welfare, and was awarded following scrupulous documentation and an inspection of the animal collection and its policies.
The licence will remain in place for a period of 3 years and recognises that the expected standards of animal welfare and health and safety are met. It also permits opportunities for further community engagement and activities with the animal collection at Hartpury.
Home to a variety of domestic and non-domestic species including small mammals, reptiles, livestock and exotics, Hartpury Animal provides college and university students with an opportunity to better understand the biology and behaviour of each. This helps bring learning to life and helps prepare students for their future careers. The Animal collection also helps with outreach activities such as school visits, inspiring the next generation to pursue their love of animals. Spending time around animals is also proven to have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Vicky May, Director of Hartpury Animal said: “We are thrilled to be granted the AAL licence as it recognises the hard work and high standards the team uphold for the animal collection and the student experience.
The physical and emotional needs of animals are at the heart of everything we do. Working with skilled staff, the animal collection enables our students to contribute to studies and better understand animals like never before.”
The facilities include an Animal Management Centre that works as a purpose-built teaching space for Animal Management and Science students, as well as housing reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and a diverse assortment of tropical and cold water fish. The Walled Garden is home to rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, meerkats, prairie dogs, skunk and tortoises; with wallabies, Bagot goats, llama and poultry residing in the Orchard paddocks.
Hartpury University’s popular animal degrees include a BSc (Hons) Zoology, BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, BSc (Hons) Human Animal Interaction with Psychology and a brand new BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences. Postgraduate animal degrees at Hartpury were ranked number one in the UK by full-time postgraduate students in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2023, for support and for skills development.
Hartpury College’s well-regarded animal diplomas include a Level 2 Diploma Animal Management, Level 3 National Diploma Animal Management and a Level 3 National Extended Diploma Animal Management.
It’s been a year filled with accolades for the Gloucestershire institution. Just last week, the university was awarded Gold in all three areas of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) - Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes. Notably, this impressive accolade places Hartpury in the top 15% of published UK-wide institutions. Hartpury is also the only Gloucestershire university to have been awarded the prestigious triple Gold status.
