Think you know Reaseheath?
The farm. The zoo. The countryside setting? Think again.
Step through the campus gates on Sunday, May 17th for the Reaseheath Family Festival and discover a campus alive with activity that reveals the true scale of what Reaseheath College and University Centre has to offer. This much-loved event sees staff and students welcome families to the Nantwich-based campus for a day designed as much for discovery as it is for enjoyment.
While a Calf Show and equine displays remain staples of the festival, the event also offers visitors the chance to look closer at the modern, technical world thriving behind the farm gates.
In the Construction Department, the future is being built in real-time. Visitors can step into the new T-Level building to experience 3D printing and drone simulators alongside the tactile, traditional skills of bricklaying and plaster casting. It is a place where young minds can scale a giant Jenga tower one minute and enter a ‘build a boat’ challenge the next.
For the foodies amongst the crowd, the festival’s culinary heart has grown significantly. The Street Food Market offers a global tour of flavours, from Halloumination’s famous fries and Jacob’s Pizza to Bubbleland’s tea and The Fabulous Food Guys’ churros. Meanwhile, the Farmers’ Market showcases local excellence, including fresh bakes from Haslington Bakery.
The Food Centre itself remains a centrepiece of the day. In a county famous for its dairy, visitors will be able to watch the making of authentic Cheshire Cheese – a craft now preserved in very few places. They might even witness a piece of history in the making as the team practices for a World Record attempt next year: the creation of a
truly giant Custard Cream.
The festival is designed to move at every pace. On the Main Lawn, there will be activities provided by Circus Avago workshops and the Foundation Department stalls offering hands-on rural crafts such as bug-house building and mud painting. New for this year, families can also follow an enchanted Fairy Trail featuring chainsaw-carved fairy houses, mushrooms and a wishing well, or visit the story time tent where the English department will be bringing tales to life throughout the day.
Understanding that a busy event can be sensory-heavy. organiser have ensured there is space to reset. Teaming up once again with local accessibility consultants Direct Access, the college will provide ‘The Calm Corner’ a quiet sanctuary with sensory tools and beanbags. Even the Library is joining in, offering a peaceful ‘book crèche’ and a dog-friendly place to sit.
Stephanie Owen, Recruitment and Events Manager, said: “Events like this matter at Reaseheath. They offer a rare chance to see learning in action, whether that’s performing ‘surgery’ on a toy tiger in Vet Nursing, trying hobby-horse jumping, or exploring the Agri-tech display of vintage heritage tractors and modern EV technology.
“For more than a century, Reaseheath has been rooted in widening access to the countryside and supporting people to fulfil their potential. We have always seen the Family Festival as more than just an event; it is a moment where we throw open the gates and invite our neighbours to share in the life of the college.
“We are incredibly proud to remain a place where a child can scale a climbing wall or a tractor for the first time. This year, we’ve worked hard to ensure the day reflects the breadth of what we do here, from the quiet, traditional craft of Cheshire
cheesemaking to the high-tech world of 3D printing and robotics.
“It’s about creating a space where every generation of the family can find something that sparks their curiosity.”
When: Sunday, May 17th, 10am – 5pm.
Tickets: Family tickets are £33, available at www.reaseheath.ac.uk/familyfestival
Payment: Reaseheath is a cashless campus but some of our traders may accept cash so please ensure you bring both with you on the day.
