The Queen visits South Downs National Park for college centenary
Her Majesty The Queen recently visited the National Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Plumpton College.
The college, which specialises in land-based studies, gave The Queen a warm welcome before her Majesty was given a special tour of the 800-hectare estate, meeting staff and students.
The Queen has strong links to both the college and the local area and is Patron of the Plumpton College Charitable Foundation and WineGB.
During the visit, Her Majesty toured the Animal Education Centre with students, including the new lemur enclosure, before visiting the Veterinary Studies Centre. Opened in 2023, the centre includes commercial training facilities such as a canine hydrotherapy pool, giving students experience in a real working environment.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to update Her Majesty on the college’s continued contribution to the English and Welsh wine sector during its centenary year.
The Queen, who grew up in the South Downs, concluded the visit by unveiling a plaque outside the AgriFood Centre to commemorate 100 years of land and environment education at the South Downs campus.
Jeremy Kerswell, Principal of Plumpton College, said: “It’s a huge honour to welcome Her Majesty to Plumpton College during this special year for the college. It was a privilege to share our centenary celebrations, showcase the £40m investment we have made in our campus over the past decade for sector leading technical resources, and give students the opportunity to speak directly about their learning and ambitions.”
