Seventh Green Flag Award for Whiteknights campus

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Scenic Whiteknights campus continues to impress students and the public alike.

The University of Reading has been recognised as one of Britain’s top green spaces for the seventh consecutive year.

Whiteknights campus has won its seventh Green flag Award, the international hallmark for high quality parks and green spaces. In a record year for the scheme, a total of 1,797 UK parks and green spaces have been recognised for their quality – we are delighted to announce that Whiteknights campus was ranked within the highest scoring tier, achieving a judges’ score of over 80%.   

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. 

During their assessment the judging panel praised the management of the campus grounds, noting a strong management plan and a shared sense of pride observed across the teams responsible for maintaining the site. 

The judging report noted:   

“There is an immense and justifiable sense of pride from the team responsible for this exceptional site. We acknowledge that this standard does not happen by ‘happy accident’ it comes from the commitment of the team and appropriate levels of funding. The team should be proud of their hard work maintaining the site to such high standards”. 

Colin Robbins, Director of Estates and Facilities, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the seventh year in a row. Our maintenance and management teams should be justifiably proud of what they continue to achieve year on year, and I hope they take on board both the compliments from the judges and my own hearty gratitude.

“Each flag is a celebration of the 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 green spaces matter to people.”

The Green Flag Awards Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department of Communities and Local Government. The Green Flag Awards form part of a larger body of campaign activity designed to promote the preservation, upkeep and easy access to parks and green spaces.   

Any green space that is accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. 

Visit www.greenflagaward.org for the full list of winners and further information on the awards scheme.