Alice Bathard

My first year at Hartpury is nearly over and I’m looking forward to the two I’ve got ahead of me. Although I grew up on a farm in South Gloucestershire, I had never thought about going into Agriculture. I did A-Levels after school as I didn’t know what I wanted to do so wanted to keep my options open. It wasn’t until after I received my results that I thought about going to uni.

After taking a gap year, I chose to study Agriculture at university to widen my knowledge of farming and learn more before going into the industry full time. Hartpury was immediately my first choice as it was close to home, yet far away enough to live independently. Having family members who attended the college before also made it feel somewhat familiar. I also knew Hartpury would be smaller than other universities so I wouldn’t feel like just a number.

Coming to Hartpury has definitely changed my life, I’ve met lots of people who have the same background or interests as me, and I have had the opportunity to work at various farms. Hartpury is also based in a nice rural area, yet close enough to Gloucester for nights out and trips to McDonald’s.