Downing wins Wildlife Trusts awards

We are delighted to announce our award for Best Wildlife Garden at Work 2019 from the Wildlife Trusts for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Since Downing's highly commended entry in last year's awards, our Gardens and Grounds staff have implemented a host of new features and improvements for wildlife such as meadow areas, feeders and diverse planting. The College is committed to creating an environment for the benefit of the whole college community, as well as the visiting and residential wildlife.
We were also pleased to win the category of Best Use of Recycled Materials for Wildlife at Work for our beautifully crafted bug hotel, which shows how objects can not only be given a new lease of life but can also be incredibly useful.
Jack Sharp, Head Gardener said: “We are delighted to have won two awards, which serve to highlight our commitment to creating an environment which has a positive impact for our Fellows, students, and everyone who visits. We will continue to develop and use environmentally friendly practices throughout the Gardens and Grounds department and make improvements to the site.”
The awards were made at Downing earlier this month, where the Master's wife Vicky Ambery-Smith welcomed the Wildlife Trusts team. The Trust's Corporate Partnerships Development Manager Sue Barnard said: “It's been wonderful to see the great initiatives that are being put in place to help wildlife – many thanks to all who entered and congratulations to the prize winners – to whom we awarded Kate Bradbury's inspirational book. Many thanks also to our Judge, Bernard Hunt, of Hunts Wildlife Landscapes.”

Prize giving at Downing College (left to right): Vicky Ambery-Smith, Head Gardener Jack Sharp, judge Bernard Hunt, Sue Barnard and Ben Buttery Head of Conference Services.

Published 29 July 2019.