Sparsholt College has just completed its own purpose-built 25-metre indoor rifle range.

"The range will allow us to ensure that all our students are not only safe, but competent in the use of rifles," said Martin Edwards, game and wildlife section manager at the land-based industries college just outside Winchester.

In recent years, the college has been awarded centre of vocational excellence status for its game, wildlife and fishery management courses, attracting funds that allowed major investment in its training facilities, including the rifle range.

"We have always included firearms training in our courses, but in the past, we have been limited to how much access we could get on local military ranges.

"With this new facility in place, we will be able to cover all the basics in controlled and comfortable surroundings before progressing on to outside ranges for the full-bore rifles," added Jamie Cordery, the college's deer management specialist.

Thirty years ago, Sparsholt became the first college to offer gamekeeper training and continues to offer a wide range of courses from introductory right through to degree level.

Whilst many similar colleges are reducing their provision in these areas, Sparsholt is still committed to training the gamekeepers of tomorrow.