Green Flag award for University campus
The University of York’s 500-acre parkland campus has, for the first time, been awarded a Green Flag by the Keep Britain Tidy charity in recognition of the quality of its landscaped green space.
The University is one of 78 sites in Yorkshire and Humberside to win the award for 2013/14 which measures a range of criteria including cleanliness, sustainability and conservation.
Gordon Eastham, Grounds Maintenance Manager at the University said: “The campus is a beautiful space which provides a green haven for staff, students and local residents.
There’s evidence that although the landscape is not yet fully matured, we are having increasing success in attracting birds such as the Little Ringed Plover, Skylarks, Lapwings and Oyster Catchers
Gordon Eastham, Grounds Maintenance Manager
“The University of York is one of only a handful of universities to achieve Green Flag status which recognises the quality of the landscape and the hard work that goes into maintaining and developing it. The campus is a great place to spend time and we encourage the Heslington and University communities make the most of the resource on their doorsteps.
“The award also recognises the fact that the campus is also an important wildlife habitat, particularly on Heslington East where we are creating wildflower meadows, wetlands and woods. There’s evidence that although the landscape is not yet fully matured, we are having increasing success in attracting birds such as the Little Ringed Plover, Skylarks, Lapwings and Oyster Catchers.”
Nearly 1,450 parks, gardens, allotments and cemeteries across the UK now fly the green flag, an increase on last year.
The awards are judged every year by 800 volunteer expert judges.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd said: “It’s another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Awards and this is something well worth celebrating.
“It is fantastic that Yorkshire and Humberside now boasts 78 winning sites – meaning more people than ever before in the region can play, relax and enjoy quality green space on their doorstep.”
Further information
- Read more about wildlife on campus
- Find out more about the work of Keep Britain Tidy