Wind Farms : do you have a problem with wind?

Government legislation requires that by 2010 10% of electricity supply must come from renewable sources. Wind power is currently the most cost effective alternative energy and produces no greenhouse gas emissions or waste products. There are a number of websites outlining the facts and myths about wind energy and the impact wind farms have on the environment, countryside and wildlife.

 We are all too well aware of the need for alternative sources of energy, however, how would we feel if they impacted on our own backyard?

Currently there is a proposal to erect up to 6 wind turbines on farmland close to the villages of Knightcote, Gaydon, Northend and Bishops Itchington (http://www.starboldwindfarm.co.uk/).

With the very real prospect of windfarms being built in our local area, is it time we found out about the facts and myths of wind energy for ourselves and ask ourselves: are wind farms good or bad for the environment; is beauty is in the eye of the beholder; or are they just a blot on the landscape?

posted by Lucy

Are you hungry for nutritional info.?

New 2009

If you are studying horse nutrition at an introductory level, then this is the ideal book for you. It covers the current syllabuses set out by equine science and management courses, and is particularly suitable for those who lack background knowledge in science.  

 

 

4th edn., 2008

 This book has been revised to reflect the current understanding of nutritional and dietary requirements. It includes new information examining the role of nutrition in common chronic diseases, as well as end-of-chapter exercises & key point summaries. A CD-ROM with PowerPoint presentations for each chapter covers self-assessment tests, clinical problems, a virtual laboratory, and a program for nutrient analysis and meal evaluation. The author uses concise, authoritative language to emphasize and describe the underlying biochemistry that is essential to an understanding of nutrient function. With clear and simple diagrams, the text explores the physiological need for food and describes the metabolic pathways, their integration and control, and the biochemical basis of their nutritional and physiological importance. 

The first and only nutrition book written with the special needs of your performance dog in mind. An excellent resource for determining what food is best for your dog to enhance working ability, also a great reference when special nutritional situations arise. It will help you discover why different types of performance dogs have different nutritional requirements;  how to make your dog a top winner with simple nutritional recommendations;  the benefit of certain nutrients and how they promote peak performance;  & how to find nutritional solutions to performance problems.  

posted by Pippa

Huge selection of ebooks now available through ebrary!

Along with all the books on the shelves in the LRCs across Warwickshire College’s six sites, members of the college can now access a massive selection of electronic ebooks through ebrary on their computers! Access the ebrary site via the LRC’s intranet page by clicking on the ‘Digital library’ link followed by the ‘Ebrary Collection’ link, or visit http://site.ebrary.com/lib/warkscoll/home.action

Listed below is sample of the ebrary functions that enable users to get the most out of their library resources:

• Search by choosing simple or advanced (by keyword, full-text, publisher, or author).
• Instantly open documents in QuickView by clicking on a book jacket or title. No downloads or installations are required.
• Navigate using the table of contents, which shows search results at the chapter level. You may also navigate to every occurrence of your search term in a document, flip through pages, or go to specific page numbers.
• Use ebrary InfoTools™ to expand your research to other library resources and information on the web. Many InfoTools features can be activated by selecting words of interest in a document.
• Copy and print with automatic citations. Use Preferences on the InfoTools menu to choose from four citation styles. ebrary citations include a URL back to the source.
• Highlight text with or without notes and post multiple notes to a page. They are automatically stored on your personal bookshelf.
• Create a personal bookshelf to automatically save an archive of your highlights and notes as you conduct research. Unless you create a bookshelf and sign in before annotating any documents, your annotations will not be saved.

posted by Sophie

New Health & Safety books website

From 1 September 2009….

The Health & Safety Executive has made the content of approx. 230 of their priced publications freely available through their HSE Books website. These mainly include HSE’s ‘HSG’ and ‘L’ series of publications.

The content of these priced publications are now freely available in PDF format. Printed hard copies can also be purchased through the new website. The option to view a PDF is shown under the paragraph headed ‘Downloads’ on the relevant page for each publication within the new site.

HSE has from the outset, made some 50 or so of the most popular titles freely available in ‘printer friendly’ format. The remaining titles will be converted to this format by 31 March 2010.

Posted by Steph

What LRC staff can do for you….!

View from upstairs

Welcome to College life in the countryside here at Moreton Morrell.  Getting to the shops may be a bit of an issue, but take a closer look at some of  the things you can access from the Learning Resource Centre right on your doorstep.

We know this is a busy time with lots to take in with inductions, masses of paperwork and form filling. Once you have enrolled & ‘found your feet’ come along to the LRC and meet the friendly staff who are all keen to support you with your studies.

Find out how to log-in to the PCs & check your student email. Come & browse our catalogue ‘Aquabrowser’ & learn how to reserve & renew your books online, even from home. Grab the latest films on DVD before someone else does.

Whether you prefer to find your information on the Web, or curl up in the corner with a good book – we have something for everyone!  We are looking forward to getting to know you!

Posted by Steph

Welcome to the LRC Blog!

A big “Welcome!” to all new students and ”Welcome Back!” to the rest of you! Here’s hoping you had a nice break, and the transition back into ’study mode’ isn’t too hard on the brain!

For those of you that are new to the LRC blog, this is a place where our staff post all kinds of information for your interest and reading pleasure, covering a wide scope of interests, topics and resources relevant to college courses.

Why not drop us a line and let us know what you want to hear more about. This is YOUR blog, YOUR LRC and we want to hear from YOU!

Wishing you all the best in the new academic year and the coming term!

posted by Sophie

HEART OF ENGLAND IN BLOOM @ PERSHORE

An award ceremony was held at Pershore Abbey on Wednesday 3^rd September for winners of the Heart of England in Bloom competition.    Pershore town gained a Gold award in the small town category.  Activities identified within the portfolio were undertaken by staff and students at Pershore College.  Our own Alan Gregg is Chairman of Pershore In Bloom and  Alan would like to thank all those that have supported the development of this year’s entry.

If you are interested in Pershore in Bloom’s work, why not have a look at their website: www.pershoreinbloom.com

Posted by Alison

 

PERSHORE COLLEGE AT MALVERN AUTUMN SHOW

Pershore College will be exhibiting at Malvern Three Counties Autumn Show on 26th and 27th September.  The stand will offer produce sales and careers advice.  For general information on the show go to:

http://www.threecounties.co.uk/malvernautumn/index.html

Posted by Alison

New equine books in stock

New 2nd edition, 2009

Practical information on the reproductive management of both thoroughbred and warmblood breeding operations prepares you to effectively breed even problem mares and stallions. Includes detailed content on techniques, procedures, & reproductive physiology to help you increase reproductive efficiency. A must for anyone interested in equine reproduction.   

 

 

Published 2008

Equine neurology has become a central part of everyday equine practice. In this practical and comprehensive clinical reference, clinicians will find the up-to-date resources needed to recognise, diagnose and treat neurologic diseases and disorders in equine patients. At the heart of the book are practical features, such as diagnostic algorithms, charts and tables, designed to aid in the clinical examination of the nervous system, differential diagnosis, and appropriate methods of treatment. Detailed information on individual diseases and disorders is provided, including etiology, epidemiology, diagnostic methods, treatment, prognosis and prevention. A practical review of the basic anatomy and physiology of the nervous system also provides the essential framework for understanding and treating equine neurological problems.

New title for 2009

This book tries to summarise some of the vast amount of information relating to the horse in the areas of medicine, surgery, reproduction and pharmacology. There is enough detail to give an understanding of many of the basic diseases, pathogens & therapies that are available to those working in the field of equine health and welfare.

 

New title for 2009

 This is the first book to explore conditions and problems of the horses back and pelvis, which are often difficult to diagnose and treat. The importance of the horse′s back to their function and athletic ability cannot be underestimated. There has been considerable progress in recent years in understanding back problems in the horse, and this book brings together the most recent research.

 

 

New title for 2009

By understanding how the horse’s biomechanics works and how to influence it, most of the misunderstanding between horse and rider is avoidable, and the vast majority of schooling problems solvable. Equine sport science teaches us how a horse’s body and mind functions. Through an understanding of this natural science, together with literature left to us by the classical masters, training horses, without the dependence on gadgets, becomes extremely easy and logical. The knowledge of equine biomechanics turns horse training and riding teaching into a completely logical process. In this work, Karin Blignault investigates the horse’s natural methods of performing movements and compares this with the movements he performs in dressage and jumping. Examining each individual gait and movement – including lateral work, piaffe, passage, flying changes – the author highlights the biomechanical difficulties the horse encounters in his effort to please the rider, gives suggestions to riders and trainers on how to overcome these difficulties, and further gives judges pointers on how to recognize these problems.

Posted by Steph

Pershore College Wins Gold at Hampton Flower Show!

Pershore College have won a gold medal and Best Exhibit in the Plant Heritage Marquee at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.  To read more go to:

http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/news_releases/latest_news/_Gold_Win_at_Hampton_Show.htm

Posted by Alison

Banksy Exhibition at Bristol City Museum

 

The elusive graffiti artist Banksy has produced his largest show to date, featuring more than 100 previously unseen artworks. Unveiled by Bristol City Museum, the exhibition – Banksy versus Bristol Museum – was kept secret from council bosses and was installed in the council-run museum amid great secrecy. Banksy was previously sought for vandalism by the police and council in his home city of Bristol. He said: ‘This is the first show I’ve ever done where taxpayers’ money is being used to hang my pictures up rather than scrape them off.’

Banksy claims that he has to maintain his anonymity for “legal” reasons. In the press release accompanying the exhibition, he said: “Maybe one day graffiti art will hang in lots of museums and be viewed in the same way as other modern art, although personally I hope it never sinks that low.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2009/jun/12/banksy-bristol-art-exhibition?picture=348798024

The exhibition runs until August 31st 2009, open daily 10am- 5pm; admission free.

For more information, visit www.bristol.gov.uk/museums

posted by Sophie

Display at Pershore to Celebrate Darwin Bicentenary

In recognition of the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth a display has been set-up at Pershore LRC to celebrate his life and achievements.  It focuses on two main areas: his voyage on HMS Beagle (1831 – 36) as a ‘gentleman naturalist’ and his life at Down House, Kent (1842- 82).  The significance of Darwin’s experience on the Beagle in developing his ideas of evolution by natural selection is well documented.  It was not until over two decades after the Beagle voyage, however, that the first edition of On the Origins of Species was published in 1859. What is less well known is the experimental work he conducted in the gardens and grounds at Down House.  This included trials on hybridising primroses and the pollination of orcids as well as observations on the variation in commonplace nature such as hedge parsley.  Whilst at Down House Darwin carried out an extensive corrospondence with many of the leading natural scientists of his time and such luminaries as Joseph Hooker (Director at Kew) and the geologist Charles Lyell, were frequent visitors.  Recent biographies, like Michael Boulter’s Darwin’s Garden (2008), have stressed the importance of Darwin’s work at Down to the development of mature scientific thinking.

     Darwin (paper in hand), Hooker and Lyell in the study at Down House

 

                                Conrad Martens’ painting of HMS Beagle

Posted by Peter

Books on Darwin at Pershore LRC

The following books are a selection of those on Darwin available at Pershore LRC: 

Darwin – A Life in Science (1995) by John Gribbin and Michael White –  This biography explores Darwins work as a scientist and traces the development of his ideas of evolution by natural selection.  His achievements are placed in the context of a man plauged by illness and personal tragedy.

 

Darwin’s Sacred Cause (2009) by adrian Desmond and James Moore – In this radical reinterpretation of the significance of Darwin’s work his commitment to abolition of Slavery, the ‘Sacred Cause’, is viewed as not as a moral stance but supported by his evolutionary theory.  Leading apologists for slavery had argued that different races ariginated as seperate species but Darwin rejected such spurious assertions by stressing the essential unity of all life. 

Darwin’s Gardem (2008) by Michael Boulter – A book that examines the importance of the botanising and experimental work that Darwin did whilst living at Darwin House to his scientific theories.

 

 

Evolution – second edition - (1999) by Colin Patterson – An introductory text on modern evolutionary theory written for the non-specialist.  Clear, concise and well illustrated.

 

 

 

Posted by Peter 

Pershore College Open Day

 

 

 

6th June   10am – 5pm

Lots of activities and demonstrations for the whole family to enjoy including:
Produce and plant sales, public dog show, horticultural demonstrations, dog agility, classic car displays, fun children’s activities, Gardeners’ Question Time, Birds of Prey demonstrations, tractor and trailer rides, laser clay shooting, floristry demonstrations, employers and networking area and much more!

Refreshments are available.

Tickets are £5 per car or £2 per person

 

www.warkscol.ac.uk/pershore 

 Posted by Alison

Free English Classes

Do you know anyone for whom English is not a first language who might be interested in free English classes? 

The classes start next Monday and will be held every afternoon (except Friday) 1.30-3.30pm for the next five weeks.

Classes are taught by trainee teachers under the supervision of an experienced tutor and are at two levels Elementary (Entry 1-2) and Upper Intermediate (Entry 3 / Level 1).

If you know anyone who might be interested they should telephone 01926 884211, email jmeakin@warkscol.ac.uk or pop into the languages department (RLS).

posted by Sophie