Green flag for glorious green campus

Essex has been given a Green Flag Award, recognising our commitment to managing the historic parkland of our Colchester Campus.

The Green Flag Award scheme judges who visited Wivenhoe Park said it is “one of the best sites I have seen for environmental practices.”

The judge’s report praised our investment in “equipment and infrastructure to enable this site to be maintained at a very high standard” as well as our staff who are “fully engaged in their role, and understand the benefits of their work.”

You can vote for Wivenhoe Park to win the People's Choice Award. Voting is open until 30 September 2017.

The Green Flag Award scheme sets the benchmark for good management of recreational outdoor space. This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

The judges commented that the “health and wellbeing that the natural environment brings to students is evident and priceless,” and that “it must be at the top of any university landscapes.”

The judges singled out our tree management for praise, as well as the use of bat and bird boxes, and wild areas for insects.

The judges also praised Essex’s environmental management, specifically the use of brine salting of roads and paths, a clear water wash pad for recycling waste water, a biological composter, chipping and composter area, and LED lighting.

In summing up, the judges noted that the University’s “parkland and campus were pristine and looked amazing in the balmy summer.”

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.”

Essex’s Colchester Campus is based in the 230-acre Wivenhoe Park which, in 1816, was immortalised by landscape painter John Constable. It has over 2,800 notable trees, including rare species, and three man-made lakes which provide a habitat for water birds including moorhens, coots and various duck species. Recent habitat surveys have identified species woodpeckers, kingfishers, five species of bat, grass snakes, common lizards, hedgehogs and harvest mice.