Green Gown Awards 2016 – Community – The University of Nottingham– Finalist

Diamond Wood –  A new woodland for biodiversity and the community

The University of Nottingham's Diamond Wood, close to the University's Sutton Bonington campus, is a newly created 60 acre site incorporating over 40,000 trees and a diverse mixture of native flowering meadow plants, was created in late 2012 by turning arable land into native woodland habitats, with help from students, staff and the local community to mark The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Across the site are a combination of semi-mature and young trees, meadow flowers, and open grassland, dipping ponds and open pathways.

In the summer of 2015 The University invested in exercise stations to form a 'trim trail' around the site. It's already proving to be a popular site for staff, students and the local community. "Our aim has been to design the woodland as an educational resource demonstrating biodiversity and sustainability in woodland practice which will provide education, enjoyment and interest to future generations" Professor Karen Cox, the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Top 3 learnings

1 Projects that create new spaces create new relationships with existing communities

2 Thinking about the customer and the end-user

3 Recognising the opportunity to link teaching and community engagement by using this resource.