Hedgehog Awareness Week

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Vikki

It’s Hedgehog Awareness Week – hedgehogs in the UK are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, development, roads and litter with populations declining by up to 50% since 2000.

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative is run by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS); it aims to improve conditions on university campuses across the UK, creating habitats where hedgehogs can thrive.

Students from Exeter University have been getting involved, working to achieve HFC bronze accreditation for Streatham Campus. So far, the team has set up a working group with key members of staff, met with the Grounds Team to improve hedgehog safety and organised a stall during Go Green Week to raise awareness and fundraise for the BHPS. Next steps are litter picks, a social media campaign and celebrating Hedgehog Awareness Week.

One of the Grounds Team Gardeners, Colin, and the Arborists have done a great job making a hedgehog house from some fallen timber on the grounds. The house will offer a hibernation site that is safer from predators in the winter and can also be used as a nesting box for a mother and her hoglets in the warmer months.

How you can help hedgehogs:

Clearing Works Project – Higher Hoopern Valley

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Vikki

The Grounds Mitigation Team’s latest project has been to clear the Streatham Campus Higher Hoopern Valley woodlands and watercourse system of invasive plants.

This area is an important ecosystem that provides various ecological, economic and recreational benefits and invasive plants can pose a significant threat to the health and diversity of this ecosystem.

Invasive plants can outcompete native species, alter soil and nutrient conditions, and disrupt natural ecological processes. Therefore this was an important project to maintain the ecological integrity of this area.

Sustainable Safe Grounds Machinery

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Vikki

The Grounds Team are committed to continuously improve our sustainable ways of working and to move away from using fossil fuels. In line with this practice, we have recently invested in purchasing some electric remote controlled mowers.

These mowers are beneficial for several reasons:

Safety – the remote control feature makes it a safer option than traditional mowers. The user can operate the mower from a distance and it can be used to efficiently and safely cut banks and steep areas of grass, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries that can occur when using a traditional mower. The remote control feature also removes the hazard of hand arm vibration exposure which is a serious health and safety concern.

Environmentally Friendly – it is an electric mower, so reduces our usage of fossil fuels. It produces no harmful pollutant emissions and the batteries can be easily and quickly recharged.

Ease of Use – the remote control feature allows the user to mow the lawn without physical exertion, making it easier and safer for individuals.

Efficient – the electric mower is quicker and faster than traditional mowers. It provides constant cutting power, which can lead to a consistent looking lawn.

Cost Effective – the operating costs are much lower than traditional mowers; they require less maintenance and are cheaper to operate.

Noise Reduction – the electric mower is far quieter than traditional mowers, reducing noise pollution on our grounds.

Tree-mendous news – over £24,000 raised for local charity Hospsicare!

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Vikki

For the third year running, the University’s Grounds Team have teamed up with local charity Hospiscare to recycle Christmas trees and support terminally ill people and their families.

Volunteers collected trees from households across Devon in exchange for a £10 donation. The trees were taken to the University’s Streatham Campus and chipped by the Grounds Team. The chippings will be used as mulch for the shrub beds on our campuses.

More than 2,000 Christmas trees were collected by 85 volunteers and chipped by the Grounds Team – raising over £24,000 for Hospiscare.

Laura Robertson, Fundraising Projects Manager at Hospiscare said: “This initiative simply wouldn’t be possible without the generous support from our local community and organisations like the University of Exeter donating their time and invaluable services. The money raised from our tree collection and recycling campaign will help us support more local patients and families living with terminal illness, who need us now more than ever.”

Dave Evans, Head of Grounds Operations at the University of Exeter said: “The University’s Grounds Team feel privileged to support Hospiscare once again through the Christmas tree recycling scheme. It’s been a fantastic effort by all involved and we’re proud to be able to provide for our community in Devon, at a time when it is needed most.”

The partnership between the University of Exeter and Hospiscare is in its third year, and together, they have recycled over 4,500 trees with the scheme raising over £55,000 for the charity since it began.

Join Us for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Vikki

Join the Sustainability Team on Friday 27 January for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on Streatham Campus.

Weatherproof clothing advised. Feel free to bring drinks, snacks etc.

Binoculars would be handy, but you can take part without.

If you are a keen birdwatcher/ornithologist and would be happy to lead on identifying birds, please let Chris know.

Meet @ 9.30am outside Camper Cafe, Queens Building.

Depending on numbers, a bird count will take place at three different locations. If the weather forecast is awful, you will be emailed by 8pm on Thursday 26 January to cancel.

Email Chris to sign up or for further details.

Bug Hotels Expert Input – BBC Bitesize Article

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Vikki

We are very proud that one of our Gardeners, Colin Brown, has shared his expert knowledge of bug hotels with the BBC which has been included in the BBC BITESIZE article “Four hacks to help our hibernating animal friends this autumn”.

Full article can be read at http://bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z4dq6rd

Well done Colin!

M-arb-ellous Upcycled Bench

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Vikki

We have a strong sustainable and biodiversity ethos within the University and the Grounds Team arboristrists practise this as much a possible by regularly creating habitat piles, building bird and bat boxes and protective fencing for new saplings from fallen branches and timber and leaving tree stumps as sanctuaries for insects and wildlife.

Their latest sustainable project was handcrafting a bench from a Quercus rubra (Red Oak) tree that failed in one of our valleys recently. This upcycled bench has been placed by Reed Pond under a Cupressus macrocarpa tree, which provides all day shade, and where it also has great views of the pond.

Upcycled bench

View of Reed pond from the upcycled bench

Upcycled bench is in all day shade, making it a cooling calming spot to relax

Tree-mendous Sustainable Fencing!

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Vikki

Our amazing Arb Team have finished another brilliant sustainable project!

They have used timber from Ash trees that had to be felled due to Ash Dieback and upcycled it to make protective fencing around newly planted trees.

This was all their own work done in-house; felling the trees, cutting the timber, measuring it, fixing and installing the new fences.

A great sustainable and economical use of resources delivered by our skilled, experienced and dedicated Arb Team.

Although we all love the deer we have on campus, they do enjoy eating a lot of plants, flowers and trees and these fences should protect the trees from the deer and their large appetites allowing the trees to grow and flourish.

Green Flag Award 2022-23 Winner!

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Vikki

We are delighted to announce that we have again achieved the prestigious Green Flag Award for both our Streatham Campus and our St Luke’s Campus!

We have successfully retained this award for the twelfth consecutive year for Streatham Campus and for the tenth consecutive year for St Luke’s Campus.

The Award is the mark of a quality park or green space which has achieved the international standards for open space excellence.

The Grounds team work hard throughout the year using their extensive skills and experience to nurture our beautiful grounds and we are extremely proud of this achievement and the wonderful grounds that we have the privilege to work in and enjoy.

University of Exeter campuses re-awarded the coveted Green Flag Award

The University of Exeter’s grounds across three campuses have been ranked among the best parks and green spaces in the country.

The gardens and grounds at the University’s Streatham, St. Luke’s and Penryn campuses are some of the record number of parks and green spaces receiving the Green Flag Award this year as they are recognised as the most beautiful and botanically interesting of any UK university.

The Exeter campuses 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. While it’s Penryn campus, shared by Falmouth University and the University of Exeter, Cornwall includes herbaceous beds, sub-tropical planting, a fruit producing orchard, an 18th Century lime avenue and a drive with Pinetum native woodlands and historic rare rhododendrons which were cultivated on the site in the Victorian era. All three of the University’s grounds also feature high-quality sporting facilities for students, staff and visitors.

A committed team works on the grounds and outdoor sports facilities, 365 days a year. The work of the grounds staff includes the care of specialist plant collections, botanical specimen propagation, pot and bedding plant production, sports playing surface maintenance and award-winning floral decoration works.

University of Exeter’s Head of Ground and Operations, David Evans, said: ‘’We are delighted to have secured this honour once again.

‘’We always put sustainability at the core of everything we do and work closely with our colleagues and students to ensure that the grounds are maintained in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible.’’

Oliver Lane, FX Plus Director of Residences and Facilities in Cornwall, said: “We are delighted to have retained this award for a sixth year. It highlights the hard work of our teams and volunteers – both students and staff. Particular thanks should go to Toby Nenning, Grounds and Gardens manager, and Casey Thomas, Head of Facilities Management, and to their teams.

“Both Falmouth University and the University of Exeter are dedicated to sustainability under their Climate Emergency declarations and a key part of this involves supporting green spaces and the biodiversity on our beautiful campus.”

Professor Lisa Roberts, the University of Exeter’s Vice-Chancellor said: ‘’Our stunning grounds are an essential part of what is so special about our university. Our talented grounds team works extremely hard to keep the estate beautiful and accessible while also creating habitats that protect wildlife and the environment. Our beautiful surroundings contribute significantly to the wellbeing of our staff and students and we take great pride in the fact they are as much a home for wildlife as they are for us.

‘’We are proud to have been given the Green Flag award, thanks to the hard work of dedicated colleagues like those in our grounds management team.’’

Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the University of Exeter campuses worthy of a Green Flag Award. It is testament to all the hard work of staff who do so much to ensure that they maintain the high standards demanded by the Award.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 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.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here

Covid Testing Sheds Upcycled to Community Gardens

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Vikki

Throughout the pandemic the University sited an outdoor Covid testing centre on Streatham Campus and now that this centre has been disbanded, the Covid Testing Centre Manager, Deborah Custance-Baker, contacted the Grounds Team and kindly offered two of the testing sheds to be re-housed.

Deborah said “During the pandemic, the Covid Rapid Response Team took over the Sports Hall and ran a drive-through testing centre at Car Park B, which we used the sheds for. The testing officially ended at the end of early June 2022. We had found it difficult to rehome equipment from the the project as there was such a mass of it all. Now Covid is coming to and end, it is great to find a benefit of these sheds for the local communities”.

Our Horticultural and Operations Manager, Anthony Cockell, made some enquiries within the local communities and found two new homes for these sheds – Exeter St Thomas Community Garden and the Refugee Support Devon Community Allotment.

Anthony, along with two members of the Grounds Team – Sam Whitehorne and Leo Brooke, used their University annual volunteering community day to work together and deliver these sheds to their new horticultural homes.

This is a great sustainable and community initiative and we are delighted to be able to support these local communities.

The pandemic highlighted the importance of outdoor space, the benefits of nature and gardening and how it increases wellbeing and mental and physical health. So it seems fitting that equipment used for the pandemic can now be used for community allotments and gardens.

Thank you to everyone involved with this project; your generosity and hard work will benefit many!

Loading the sheds

Delivering the shed to the Refugee Support Devon Community Allotment

Shed delivered – great job everyone!

Budding News

University of Exeter Grounds Team blog

Tag Archives: sustainability