Green Flag Awards for University of Exeter campuses

The University of Exeter has won Green Flag Awards for its picturesque and eco-friendly campuses.

Judges renewed the Green Flag status of the St Luke’s Campus for 2017-18, saying it was “well managed and maintained” by “enthusiastic” staff.

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

Meanwhile, the Penryn Campus in Cornwall made its first ever application for a Green Flag and was successful, with judges praising its “wonderful, unique” environment.

“The accolades are an excellent example of the quality of horticulture and open space maintenance that our staff manage to achieve for students, staff and visitors to enjoy, as part of continued promotion of the university,” said Iain Park, Director of Grounds at the University of Exeter.

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.

“Each flag is a celebration of the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.

“The success of the scheme, especially in these challenging times, demonstrates just how much parks matter to people.”

In their comments on the St Luke’s Campus, the Green Flag judges said gardening and management decisions “are made with climate change in mind”.

They added: “The university has a sound environmental policy.

“Measures have been taken to reduce impact on the environment as the opportunity arises.”

The judges also praised community involvement at the campus, saying schools and the public make good use of the sports centre, and the university “provides active participation in site projects”.

The Penryn Campus is a “wonderful, unique” place for students, the judges said.

They also called it a “perfect habitat” for wild flowers, insects, birds and bees, and said Tremough House and the Italian garden were a “plant collector’s paradise”.

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.

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”.