Growhampton, University of Roehampton

Growhampton is a sustainability initiative with a big focus on food growing. It was established in September 2013 (initially funded by the NUS Student Green Fund) and is delivered by Roehampton Student’s Union in partnership with the University of Roehampton.

Growhampton, with the help of a large number of student volunteers, have established and continue to develop an edible campus that promotes biodiversity. The creation of multiple growing spaces across the south-west London site helps to open up wildlife corridors across the campus. The carefully chosen flowers and crops that are planted encourage beneficial insects, as do the bug hotels made by students. There are five bee hives on the roof of the Students’ Union building, just next door to the main Growhampton growing site, which has mutual benefits for bees and plants alike.

All the vegetables harvested (and sold) on site are grown organically without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Instead, green manure and a crop rotation system help control pests and manage soil quality.