Lancaster University achieves the international benchmark for its outdoor spaces for the tenth year in a row.

The Green Flag is the quality mark for the management of parks and green spaces across the UK and around the world.

The award comes after 18 months that have seen the University’s parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely.

Receiving the tenth award is recognition of the skill and dedication of the team that makes the campus a great place that everyone can enjoy.

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Lancaster University worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that Lancaster University has high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

This year the University’s Grounds team has engaged in a national effort to support pollinators by designating areas of campus as 'No Mow Zones'. The initiative leaves areas of grassland relatively untouched and enables wild flowers such as dandelions to flourish.

This creates a habitat that supports surrounding wildlife including bees and other pollinators.

Andrew Burgess, Director of Estates, Facilities & Commercial Services at Lancaster University, said: “It is a fantastic achievement to have been awarded this for ten years running; many of the team have been here for all of that time and have worked exceptionally hard to maintain the standard of our campus.

“A huge thank you to our Landscape Manager Ian Sturzaker and all the Grounds team for achieving this during such challenging times. It’s a massive benefit to the students, staff and visitors to Lancaster University.”

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces and more information about the Green Flag Awards is available online.

Pictured (left to right): Front row – Ian Sturzaker (Facilities Landscape Manager), Andrew Burgess (Director of Estates, Facilities & Commercial Services), Simon Guy (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global (Digital, International, Sustainability)), Lisa Williams (Head of Service Delivery), Lea Ruegg (Green Lancaster Assistant). Back row – Andrew Brown (Groundsperson), Andrew Stirzaker (Groundsperson), Richard Verden (Groundsperson), Mark Gould (Groundsperson), Eric Suthers (Groundsperson), Paul Campbell (Grounds Assistant), Chris Ingleby (Groundsperson), Mark Drew (Chargehand Sweeper Driver).