Hello!

Welcome to the first of the new land management blogs that I look forward to writing each month – keeping you up to date on what Royal Holloway’s gardening team have been busy doing over the last few weeks as well as the changes, challenges and sights we’ve seen across our Living Campus.

If you keep reading, you might also find a few tips for your own gardens for this time of year.

So, what’s been happening this month…

An unprecedented amount of rain and winds hit Royal Holloway in September causing several tree failures, the damage hitting us was only a week after a reported local tornado in Aldershot! One of the main tree failures was a mature pine that fell onto the Medicine building roof, and there was minimal damage to the building. Thanks to the joint effort of the Estates team and contractors we were able to get this cleared fast, there were an enormous number of pinecones left on the roof to clear. 

The North Quads also experienced a first, as we trialled an automated robot mower for over a week, to test its quality of cut and efficacy. The results were interesting as the technology has developed considerably over the last decade. We’ll be considering whether we’d benefit from moving to this system ahead of next spring.

Toward the end of September, we also started cutting the hay off the meadows, which we have put into our composting system to break down and eventually use again on site. The compost site is actually part of a new pilot we introduced this year, and you can find out more about it on the University’s Environmental Sustainability web pages.

Gardening tip

Now we are entering autumn, its the perfect time to plant spring bulbs, a mix of daffodils and Camassia are an excellent combination that can extend the flowering time after the dafodils from May.

This is also the time to consider cutting back your roses to prevent wind rock over winter, as the seasons are changing and we have often milder winters, the timings of this pruning may vary, last year we had a third flush of flowers that lasted into early December!

 

All the best,

Dan

 

 

Embracing Autumn's gifts

Welcome to November! As we settle into this lovely month, we’re greeted by a refreshing break from the wet weather. The mild autumn days grant us the pleasure of prolonged colour in the garden, showcasing the rich hues of fall foliage and late-blooming flowers. It’s a perfect time to enjoy the beauty of nature as it prepares for winter.

 

Composting success!

We’re thrilled to share that our composting trial has been a resounding success! By capturing a significant portion of our green waste, we’ve created nutrient-rich black compost that we’re now incorporating into our garden beds. This process not only helps reduce waste removal but also enriches our soil, promoting healthier plants. If you haven’t started composting yet, now is the perfect time to consider how you can make a difference in your garden, its easier than you think.

 

Hidden autumn colours in Grasslands

As we explore our Living Campus, we’re discovering hidden treasures in our grasslands. We’ve identified at least four different species of waxcap mushrooms thriving in our unimproved natural grassland, (even in the orchid lawns), which are excellent indicators of a healthy, mycologically rich environment. They can take 20-30 years (as a minimum) to establish, demonstrating the value of the estates biodiversity, and its sensitivity. It’s crucial to protect these habitats, especially since up to 90% of natural unimproved grasslands have been lost in the 20th century. We encourage everyone to appreciate and conserve these vital ecosystems, maybe you could consider leaving a little area in your garden?

 

Rhododendron clearance update

In our ongoing efforts to restore the health of our campus environment, the gardening team has embarked on the second phase of our rhododendron clearance. This invasive species has been spreading and encroaching on native plants, and the extent of our clearance efforts highlights the scale of this invasion. Alongside our dedicated 'Love Your Campus' volunteers, we’ve begun replanting using the Miyawaki planting technique, which promotes the growth of dense, biodiverse forests. It’s an exciting step toward restoring our natural habitats.

 

New wildlife interpretation boards

We’re excited to introduce our new wildlife interpretation boards around the site! These boards aim to provide insights into the often-overlooked aspects of our ecosystem, highlighting the variety of wildlife that calls our estate home. We hope they inspire you to look a little closer at the world around you and appreciate the small wonders that contribute to our vibrant ecosystem. Also see them on our Living Campus webpages.

As we embrace November, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty and biodiversity of our gardens. We look forward to sharing more updates and insights as the season unfolds.

 

Gardening Tips

As the leaves start to fall it's important to try and keep it cleared of lawns to prevent over shading, and it makes a great start to a compost pile. As the grass has still been growing, mixing in your clippings with leaf will give a great carbon nitrogen balance.

If you haven’t got any compost then getting in sustainably sourced mulch for the garden is helpful at this time. It nutrifies the soil for the following year, and can help over winter any tender species from any harsher conditions.

A personal favourite gardening job at this time of year - involving a thinking cap and cuppa (maybe a biscuit or two) - is to start planning your garden for next year. What worked this year? What would you like to try? When is the best time to seed or propagate? Get the crayons out and have some fun.

 

Happy gardening!