Two very special four-legged visitors helped South Lanarkshire College give students a memorable welcome as Freshers 2026 got underway.

Sid and Toby from LarchGreen Alpacas were among the stars of this year’s Freshers celebrations, attracting plenty of attention - and photo opportunities - as new and returning students arrived on campus for the start of the academic year.

The alpacas joined three days of activities organised as part of South Lanarkshire College Student Association Freshers event 2026, which brought students together to meet new people, discover opportunities across the College and find out about the support and services available to them.

Sid and Toby proved particularly popular, with students and staff taking the opportunity to meet the pair and pose for photographs. Their visit, organised by Larch Green Alpacas, added something a little different to the traditional Freshers experience and helped create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere on campus.

Alongside the alpacas, students could visit a wide range of stalls featuring College teams and external organisations, take part in activities and enjoy food from the food truck. 

Elaine McKechnie, Vice Principal of South Lanarkshire College, said:

“Freshers is one of the highlights of the College calendar and a fantastic way to welcome both new and returning students to South Lanarkshire College.

“There was a real buzz around campus throughout the event, with students meeting new people, speaking to our teams and discovering the many opportunities available to them during their time at college.

“Sid and Toby certainly stole the show this year. They were a huge hit with everyone and brought plenty of smiles to campus. A big thank you to Larch Green Alpacas for helping us give our students such a memorable start to the new academic year.”

Freshers also gave the South Lanarkshire College Student Association the opportunity to meet students and encourage them to get involved in college life and make their voices heard throughout the year.

Hayley Mullan, South Lanarkshire College Student Association President, added:

“It was brilliant to see so many students getting involved in Freshers and enjoying everything that was happening across campus.

“Freshers is all about bringing people together. Whether students were meeting Sid and Toby, visiting the stalls or simply chatting to someone new, there was such a friendly atmosphere throughout the event.

“We’ve loved meeting so many students and introducing them to the Student Association. We’re excited to build on that enthusiasm and make sure students have plenty of opportunities to get involved throughout the year.”

South Lanarkshire College would like to thank Larch Green Alpacas, all participating organisations and stallholders, College staff and, most importantly, the students who