photo of Green Flag and University staff and students outside Hazlerigg and Rutland buildings

Loughborough University flies the Green Flag at ceremony to celebrate environmental accreditation

Staff, students and members of the community gathered at Loughborough University last week to celebrate the Green Flag Award which the University received last year.

Guests came together on Friday 1 March to witness the raising of the Green Flag on campus, positioned between the Hazlerigg and Rutland Buildings. A flag has also been placed at the entrance to the West Park of campus.  

Those in attendance included the Mayor of Loughborough, the University’s Vice Chancellor, student volunteers, Campus Services staff, representatives from Loughborough Students’ Union (LSU), and members of the Loughborough in Bloom board.

The Green Flag Award recognises the green spaces on campus that have been managed to a high standard by the Grounds and Gardens Team, who were acknowledged for their time and dedication.

The international accolade – which has been running for over 20 years – shows that spaces like Loughborough University have some of the highest environmental standards, with excellent visitor facilities and beautifully maintained grounds.

Loughborough University’sVice Chancellor, Robert Allison, said at the event: “I would like to thank all of our students and colleagues that helped us to achieve this award for their tireless commitment and early morning starts.

“This includes our Estates and Facilities Management and Security teams, and also our Students’ Union, Hall Wardens and FREEC reps.

“So many people have a wonderful impression when they arrive on campus, and one of the reasons for this is because of the people who have helped to maintain it.”

Jo Shields, Sustainability Manager at the University, commented: “The celebration event provided a great opportunity to share the accreditation with our community.

“Not only have we been able to showcase our biodiverse campus and our commitment to managing it and improving it, but it also means we were able to say thank you to the many people involved in maintaining this vibrant and beautiful environment in which we live, work and play.

As part of the event, the University also launched its ‘Keep Campus Tidy’ campaign.

This campaign aims to engage and encourage staff and students to contribute towards a litter-free environment, kickstarted by student volunteers coming together to do a litter pick prior to the flag-raising ceremony.

photo of students and LSU Exec staff with bags of litter picked up

Jo Shields added: “As part of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, we have also launched our litter hotline and Keep Campus Tidy campaign. I hope to see many litter heroes helping to keep this wonderful campus clean and free of rubbish.”

It is illegal to drop litter, with fines ranging anywhere from £65-£150 if caught. This includes litter thrown from vehicles.

The University plans to support initiatives and regulations led by the government’s 25-year environment plan, in a bid to protect the biodiversity on campus and beyond.

For more information on the work carried out by the Sustainability team, check out the dedicated webpages.

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