Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Agriculture and horticulture facilities

We're one of the UK’s leading institutions for land-based studies, and our campus in Writtle is home to a range of specialist study and research facilities.

Three students looking at plants and taking notes in a glasshouse

Our farm and field facilities are here to support hands-on learning and sustainable practice. Based on a rural, 150-hectare campus, they’re an 'open laboratory' where students of agriculture and horticulture can observe, experiment, analyse, evaluate and gain the skills that employers look for.

Students at ARU Writtle have access to:

  • research glasshouses
  • extensive plant collection on campus
  • campus farm that's home to sheep, pigs and cattle – and grows its own wheat to support livestock bedding
  • the Postharvest Unit, which undertakes research and trials with commercial companies.

This provides the opportunity to study a range of plants, crops and livestock. We also arrange visits to growers and postharvest facilities, and undertake lab-based work on campus.



Take a look around our campuses and facilities, and find out more about studying at ARU, at one of our Open Days.