THE last open day will be held at Stourbridge College’s horticultural centre in Leasowes Park before the facility for students with learning difficulties closes later this year.
The centre, which features a garden with grade one listed wall, Gardeners Rest Cafe, mobile buildings and greenhouses is set to close in August leaving the future of the site uncertain.
The open day, on Sunday (May 20), from 11am till 2pm, will give details of a range of courses available from September at the college’s new campus - Chain Wire Sports Club in Kidderminster - which it has bought for £700k from owner Brintons carpet manufacturers.
The new site will feature a Centre for Excellence for Foundation Learning which will offer full and part-time courses for students with learning difficulties of all ages.
Lynn Glazzard, Stourbridge College’s programme area manager, said: “Information on courses in horticulture and catering at our new Centre of Excellence for Foundation Learning will be available at the open day.
“Hanging baskets and bedding plants will be for sale at bargain prices and The Gardeners Rest Café will be open for ploughman’s lunch, homemade cakes and refreshments.”
The Friends of the Leasowes are gutted at the college’s move out of The Leasowes and fear what they refer to as the “secret garden” could turn into a derelict eyesore.
They are urging Dudley Council to take over the site to safeguard its future.
The college has said it is undertaking a feasibility study with regards to the future use of the land.
For details of courses visit the website at www.stourbridge.ac.uk
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