Green Flag flies across University of Exeter campuses

For the eighth year running, judges have renewed the Green Flag status of the University’s Streatham Campus in Exeter. The judges described the grounds as “delightful and a credit to all who contribute to its upkeep and management”. 

They also commended the site as excellent, saying “it has been carefully and successfully enlarged to accommodate demand without altering its character or diminishing its beauty”.

The St Luke’s Campus also had its award renewed for the sixth consecutive year, though it is in a “mystery shop” year when an inspector visits unannounced, and no judges’ comments are available yet.

Iain Park, Director of Grounds at the University of Exeter said: “This has been a very challenging season with extreme weather events and it’s great to see the skill and perseverance of staff involved in maintaining and presenting our campus grounds being recognised in this way.

“We hope it continues to demonstrate how we value the addition a quality environment makes to the student experience, attracting and retaining staff and students, sustaining wildlife and providing personal wellbeing.”

In their comments on the Streatham Campus, the Green Flag judges said “the site is managed very well with formal areas to a very high standard, wildlife areas tucked away and other projects which enhance the site.

“All aspects from building to water conservation have been studied and incorporated, improving the very nature of an area where students gather in numbers. The cleaning of the pond and reconstruction of the stream, waterfalls and leat is a great example of the commitment to preservation of the site around all of the new infrastructure which is needed to secure the future of the university.”

The campuses are among a record-breaking 1,797 UK parks and green spaces that will today receive a Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award.

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, with more Green Flags awarded this year than last year.

“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We are proud to have so many wonderful green spaces in the UK for people to enjoy, and hope that next year, we award even more flags.”

Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the Green Flag Awards, says they are a sign to the public that a place has the “highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities”.