The University of Winchester is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for the second year running for its King Alfred campus.
The University can continue to fly the prestigious banner after gaining the award for the first time in 2024.
The site is one of 2,250 in the UK (and one of just 22 universities) to achieve the award, an international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The accreditation is testament to the hard work of Maurice James, Estates Grounds Manager at the University, and his small team, who are responsible for the upkeep of around 40 acres across three sites – King Alfred, West Downs and Bar End.
Maurice said: “This is marvellous news. All credit to the Grounds Team for continuing to maintain our grounds to the standard we have all come to expect despite these challenging times.’’
In addition to colourful flower beds and neatly trimmed hedges and lawns, the campus has a wild side. As part of the University’s Biodiversity Action Plan, recent years have seen the creation of wildlife ponds, allotments, wildflower areas and native hedgerows.
The grounds teams have also installed bird boxes, hedgehog homes and wood stacks for beetles and insects.
Maurice’s team has also switched away from petrol and most of their hand-held machinery now battery powered.
In the last year nine additional allotment plots have been installed at Holm Lodge for use by staff and students; three of which have been raised higher to facilitate wheelchair use.
Justin Ridgment, Director of Estates & Facilities Services at the University, said: “Green Flag Accreditation is a great scheme that demonstrates the University commitment to making our green spaces special for all of our community well done to the team for continuing to achieve the high standards the accreditation requires.”
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved at the University of Winchester who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.
“Quality parks and green spaces like the University make the country a heathier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.
“Crucially, the University is a vital green space for communities in Winchester to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
