College Gardens
Impressive gardens at Downing College
Hidden away in the heart of Cambridge, you will find Downing College's 20 acre site contains an impressive diversity of gardens, lawns, trees and flowers, from the expanse of the Quadrangle lawns, to the unusual mixed borders of the Sunken garden and the rich assortment of trees in the Fellows' Garden.
Limes, maples and a dawn redwood in the Paddock offer further variety, whilst the wild flower habitat lures bees and butterflies and the hazel spinney attracts wildlife.
East Lodge Garden
The East Lodge Garden has an extensive collection of trees, such as birch and snake bark maple with their ornamental bark and an Indian bean with its large floppy leaves and thin green pods.
Rose Garden
Through an archway, pillar crabs, irises and clematis can be found in a secret Rose Garden, alongside breeding and feeding bird boxes and bumblebee nesters.
Recognition
Downing College is committed to creating an environment for the benefit of the whole college community, as well as the visiting and residential wildlife. The College was delighted to win the Wildlife Trusts Wildlife at Work award in 2019 following a host of new features for wildlife implemented by our talented Gardens team, such as meadow areas, feeders and diverse planting. We also have a beautifully crafted bug hotel made out of recycled materials.
Jack Sharp, Head Gardener said: “We will continue to develop and use environmentally friendly practices throughout the Gardens and Grounds department and make improvements to the site.”
Image gallery of Downing gardens
“It's been wonderful to see the great initiatives that are being put in place to help wildlife.”
Sue Barnard, Wildlife Trust's Corporate Partnerships Development Manager