A student-led Community Hub Garden, facilitated by the University of Chester’s multi-faith Chaplaincy, has been shortlisted in the ‘Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability’ category in this year’s Green Gown UK and Ireland Awards.
The awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the world.
The Community Hub has been recognised for the transformation of its unused open space into a celebrated garden that has been achieved without any dedicated budget or resources.
From its humble beginnings in 2022, the Community Hub’s thriving garden has welcomed partnerships with faculties through placements, student societies, University teams and charities – most notably Faiths4Change, a local environmental charity.
The development of the garden has created more than just a beautiful physical space. The result is the creation of a safe and inclusive environment for diverse students creating a sense of belonging.
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The garden was awarded ‘Britain in Bloom Level 5 – Outstanding’ by the RHS and North West in Bloom in 2024 under the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ scheme, and is a space for both students and staff where people can relax, enjoy the outdoors, and meet others.
There have also been practical benefits to providing an on-site garden space, as it has taught students how to grow produce at home, as well as gardening techniques such as soil management, plant care, sustainable practices and supporting wildlife. It fosters a love for nature and has allowed students to share their lived experiences and the knowledge that has stemmed from them.
The garden is a thriving social space where people gather for team meetings, sharing food together, tea parties, religious festivals and much more.
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Students also feel listened to, as they are given agency to make decisions about the garden space. They are also able to see tangible changes to the space, witnessing the direct impact they have had to enhancing the student experience.
Rev Dr Gill Reeve (Senior Chaplain) has led the initiative, informed by her own research on social and ecological place-shaping. She said, “The development of the garden has been a wonderful community project and so many students and staff have been involved in making it the thriving ecosystem that it is today. I am excited to see what the next academic year will bring.”
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