WE are said to be a nation of animal lovers.

The appeal for some is greater than others as they pursue a profession working with their furry friends.

Bradford may be a fair few miles away from York but the cities share a common bond and that is access to one of the largest and fastest growing agricultural and horticultural colleges in the UK.

While Askham Bryan College's main campus is based in York, its facilities are far reaching, benefitting some 3,900 students spread throughout 11 sites within Northern England offering full and part-time further and higher education courses including agriculture, horticulture, forestry and arboriculture, countryside management, game-keeping, sport, engineering, equine and animal management.

Among those sites is Bradford where the current college, just a short distance from the city centre, is soon to move into the World Heritage Site of Saltaire.

The 130 students who are currently studying on animal management and equine courses are moving into the Grade 2 listed mill building within Shipley College based in the Victorian mill village created by its philanthropic founder and textile magnate, Sir Titus Salt.

Wes Johnson, Campus principal, says as a college they are passionate about land based education and through animal centres set up in urban cities such as Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Scarborough, as well as the main sites in York and Newton Rigg, Cumbria, they are ensuring young people from urban areas can access the resources provided by Askham Bryan and are able to pursue careers within that field.

Wes explains there are many green sites within cities such as Bradford and Leeds which provide plenty of opportunity for young people, aged between 16 and 18, to pursue land based education.

He says 75 per cent of young people within the Bradford centre have already progressed on to higher education in land based related disciplines.

Responding to the growth in demand, the Bradford centre will move to Saltaire on April 18 where students will have the additional benefit of tapping into the resources within its new home - Shipley College.

"The move is about further improvements to the students' experiences," says Wes.

He says they are looking at further growth in the uptake of courses next year all aided by the large geographical area they serve and also the ease of access through transportation links to the Saltaire site.

"We are really thrilled with the response from Shipley College. They have welcomed us with open arms," says Wes, adding it would be a 'wonderful base' for students 'providing a positive and enriching learning and teaching environment.

"Looking at the whole of Askham Bryan we are now the largest land based college in the country and there are real opportunities to go on to higher education or get a job."

Wes cites the opportunities for enterprise and entrepreneurship through initiatives such as setting up a dog walking or dog sitting service.

"People tend to be passionate about what they do and it is nice that young people can create careers out of this," says Wes.

He explains there are a 'whole host of career pathways' for students to pursue such as veterinary nursing.

The courses can potentially open up travel opportunities too, according to Wes. He explains a group of students from the Bradford centre are currently on a work placement in a donkey sanctuary in Aruba in the Caribbean.

"So in terms of raising aspirations for students who have not spent much time out of the city, let alone out of the country, it is a fantastic experience for them."

"I think what we have is created opportunities for young people in Bradford to look outside traditional employment and to realise there are a whole range of of opportunities by engaging in land based education, and Askham Bryan are passionate about offering those opportunities."

Shipley College principal, Nav Choan, says they are looking forward to hosting Askham Bryan's Animal Care courses 'which will be a valuable complement to the courses already on offer at the campus in Saltaire.'

Level 3 courses in animal management and equine studies will begin this month.

Students will also benefit from having access to Askham Bryan's £6.8m new wildlife and conservation centre at York as well as its farms in Cumbria and Yorkshire. It is anticipated that links will be developed with farms within the Shipley area too.

For more information visit askham-bryan.ac.uk