News / University of Bristol
Royal Fort Gardens wins major environmental accreditation
The Royal Fort Gardens at the University of Bristol predates the university by some 300 years and has been the site of historic events – the garden site originally acted as a fortification during the English Civil War.
Earlier this month, it secured the Green Flag accreditation, awarded by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognising its commitment to preservation.
Winning the award for the ninth consecutive time, the team behind the Royal Fort Gardens could not be happier.
is needed now More than ever
The Royal Fort Gardens was awarded Green Flag accreditation for the ninth consecutive year – photo: University of Bristol
Representing the gardening team, Tom Stevens and Josh Perry attended the Green Flag Award ceremony in London and were presented with the award.
Stevens, horticultural team leader, said: “The ceremony was fun, there was lots of cake! We were last to go on stage, and we were getting a bit nervous, but it was brilliant for the team’s work to be recognised.”
The Royal Fort Gardens is a popular spot for family picnics during summer months – photo: Milan Perera
Nestled between the University’s physics, engineering and medical sciences departments, the Fort Gardens acts as an escape for many busy students.
The rolling landscape retains much of the original 18th century design of the celebrated landscape architect Humphry Repton which features ponds, ferns, large trees and designated natural habitats for bees, birds and frogs.
The Royal Fort Gardens boasts of a vast array of tress, shrubs and ferns – photo: Milan Perera
It boasts of a sculpture garden in the back and a mirror maze near the pond. The Royal Fort Gardens is also the site of the first permanent monument to a Black woman in a public space in the UK; the statue of Henrietta Lacks by Helen Wilson-Roe.
Paul Todd, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager, said the Gardens were a “vital green space” that provide “important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health”.
He added: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at the Royal Fort Gardens on achieving a Green Flag Award.”
This statue of Henrietta Lacks is the first permanent monument to a Black women in a public space in the UK – photo: Milan Perera
Students and members of the general public are able to volunteer at the garden to help staff with its daily upkeep.
One such student is Max Moorcroft, a plant science student, who has recently volunteered.
He said: “Volunteering in Royal Fort was a lovely way to spend time outdoors and have a break from studying.
“It felt especially rewarding being able to see the work we’d done, knowing that other people would enjoy the crocuses we’d planted- and hopefully spend more time outdoors themselves because of them.”
The gardens have retained much of the original 18th century design by the landscape architect Humphry Repton – photo: Milan Perera
Main photo: Milan Perera
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