From the Gardens

Since the removal of the crane in the Master’s Garden, the temporary bridge over the Cam, and the builders’ compound in the Fellows’ Garden, the Gardens team has worked at full stretch to reinstate the College’s beautiful gardens.

In May, the river beds were planted out according to the new drought tolerant scheme. The substrate uses recycled materials from the building work, including crushed bricks, aggregates, ballast and sharp sand. The aim of the new scheme is to provide year-round colour and interest with greater resilience to a changing climate. The new design is thriving and has had positive feedback from the College community.

Following reinstatement of the Fellows’ and Master’s Gardens, ongoing drainage issues on the main lawns have resulted in persistent waterlogging. A report has been commissioned from soil specialists, and a mechanical aerator will be deployed to try to reduce compaction and aid drainage. Despite this, it is hoped that major College events next summer can once again be held in these beautiful spaces.
Around the new River Room, the light-wells were planted in June 2023 and the plants are responding well. The carefully chosen shade-loving plants provide an interesting backdrop for students, staff and Fellows, connecting the indoors with the outdoors. As the months pass, these light-well gardens are expected to mature further, bringing even more life to the River Room’s surroundings

Meanwhile, the wildflower areas in Memorial Court continue to flourish, becoming a vital part of the College's landscape and contributing significantly to local biodiversity. The discovery of bee orchids on Memorial Court’s front lawn is a clear indicator of the increasing ecological diversity these wildflower zones are generating. Clare Fellow, Dr Ed Turner, has provided walking tours of these ‘Wild Borders’ to see the flowers in bloom and the beasties close up which has proved popular for both students and staff.

Working with students and the Gardens committee, a project to digitise the gardens is nearing completion. QR codes have been added at various locations throughout the gardens, providing additional information for visitors about what they are looking at. Using their mobile phones, members of the College community can scan the QR code along the Yellow and Blue border for example, and read more about the rich variety of plants as well as the history of its design. If the project proves popular, the QR codes will be engraved onto wooden posts, and become a permanent feature.