We are delighted to announce that the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus has been officially recognised as one of the country’s best parks and green space having again achieved the prestigious Green Flag Award for 2023-24.
Streatham Campus has successfully retained this award for the thirteenth consecutive year.
Streatham Campus is the largest of the University of Exeter’s three campuses and is built around a country estate overlooking the city. The 300-acre site is a Registered Botanic Garden, and home to a range of exotic trees and shrubs as well as a network of ponds.
The accreditation is the international quality mark for parks and greens space and is awarded from the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
The committed Grounds team work on the grounds, 365 days a year, providing care of specialist plant collections, botanical specimen propagation and pot and bedding plant production. They also manage a mature tree stock of around 10,000 trees along with an arboretum, Italianate Garden, magnolia lawn, cherry orchards and a national collection of Azara.
The University’s Head of Grounds Operations, David Evans, said: “We are delighted to have secured this honour once again. It is testament to the skill and dedication of the Grounds teams, who maintain and cultivate it so expertly. They are genuine ambassadors for sustainability and work closely with our colleagues and students to ensure that the estate is maintained in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible.’’
Speaking of the award, Joanna Chamberlain, the University’s Director of Sustainability, said: “Our campuses are fundamental to the identity of the University, from the first impressions they create for visitors to the vital role they play in staff and student wellbeing. We never take these beautiful spaces for granted, however, and there is a huge amount of work being done to enhance, improve and safeguard them for now and for generations to come.”
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
In addition to major parks such as Queen’s Park in London, Green Flags have also been awarded to more diverse green spaces such as hospital memorial gardens and a railway station in Wrexham.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at the University in achieving a Green Flag Award. The Streatham campus is a vital green space for the community in Exeter, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”
A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available on the Keep Britain Tidy website.
Due to redevelopment works works at St Luke’s Campus, it was decided not to apply for a Green Flag Award for the campus this year.