This guide has been produced to promote the sustainable use of our natural campus for research and education.
It is relevant to all academic staff, students and local community groups that use the campus.
About our Living Campus
Royal Holloway’s Egham Living Campus exists within a mature 135-acre parkland estate, characterised by diverse woodland, meadows and watercourses.
Situated within an essential connective green corridor, the campus is home to a rich array of natural biodiversity. With a blend of meadow and lawns boasting diverse floral species, including a population of bee orchids, and woodlands teeming with various invertebrates like stag beetles and fungi, the campus fosters a vibrant ecosystem. A natural aquifer also feeds several springs and stream systems that are inhabited by our resident bullhead fish and egrets.
Our campus's diverse ecosystem provides an ideal environment for studying life sciences such as ecology, conservation, geography, and environmental geosciences. It also serves as an ideal setting for fields like performing arts, creative writing, and health studies.
Using the Living Campus
Our Living Campus is available to everyone.
We kindly request that when completing research, teaching or other activities, you adhere to the University’s relevant rules and policies, and speak with Daniel Steel or Jonathan Howe if you need to:
- Dig holes or take large soil samples
- Remove any plants or wildlife
- Organise large group work
- Temporarily close off any areas
- Enter bodies of water
For the safety of you, our wildlife and our habitats, we also ask that you please never:
- Light Fires
- Introduce new plants or wildlife species
- Disturb wildlife (or individuals without their consent)
- Cross-contaminate (e.g. transfer soil, water or plants across different areas of the campus)
- Enter areas where work is already underway or that are fenced off
Contacts
For further information or to discuss any future projects, please reach out to the Gardening Team.
They can also advise on any planned or ongoing works in specific areas, or provide guidance on research data that may aid in campus management.
- Daniel Steel, Head Gardner: 07584 618968 or Daniel.Steel@rhul.ac.uk
- Jonathan Howe, External Space Business Partner: 01784 414042 or jonathan.howe@rhul.ac.uk
For more information, visit:Royal Holloway's Living Campus
Available areas for study and activities can be found on our Egham Campus map, along with the nearest facilities and access information.
Best locations for research and study
Arboretum
The Arboretum holds a botanical collection of trees including interesting specimens of Cork oak (Quercus suber), Japanese Lantern tree (Crinodendron hookerianum), Tartar Maple (Acer tataricum), Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides) and even a near-ancient English oak (Quercus robur).
The semi natural area also provides a fantastic area for local wildlife and is a beautiful place to sit and reflect.
Suggested activities: Walk, bird watching and listening to bird song, nature observations, sitting and reflecting. Picnic in summer. Learning about a range of more exotic trees.
Canada Copse
Part of the original planting around the Founder’s Building, Canada Copse is a semi-native woodland with exotic species such as Giant Redwood, of which we have some amazing specimens.
We are currently in the process of improving the biodiversity on the woodland, by replacing invasive species with native flora.
The Bog Gardens have a fantastic display of flowers from early spring to summer.
There is also the Founder’s Pond, which hosts a fantastic population of dragonflies in the summer, and the Cascade Gardens to enjoy currently in development. Several seating areas around the pond are a perfect setting for a relaxing natural break with our Founders Building as a scenic backdrop.
The woodlands provide a unique angle of the Founder’s Building and is worth a visit.
Suggested activities: walking along the paths, sitting and enjoying the ponds, listening to bird song, walking the cascade garden and drawing.
Founder's Field
Founder’s Field was created by spoils from the construction of the Founder’s Building. Now providing a beautiful view of the Eghan campus, a fantastic place to have a picnic or enjoy the sun. Equally, it can be used for sports, recreational games, or activities that require a large amount of open space.
Suggested activities: Picnics, sports, enjoying the sun.
Founder’s Square
Once a large car park, Founder’s Square has been transformed into a square for socialising and entertainment.
The square, which is partly bordered by flowering natives, provides a good place to engage with students and staff - with the stunning backdrop of the Founder’s Building and the Emily Wilding Davison Building
Suggested activities: Grab a coffee and sit on the benches and steps, meet with friends, enjoy the horticultural beds, sit on the grassed areas.
Queens Meadow
This sloped meadow is surrounded by woodland and managed with a grass pathway though the meadow. Come and enjoy nature and listen to the bird song. The surrounding woodland and scrub edges are home to a wide range of birds and insects.
Suggested activities: nature walk, bird watching, meadow flowers.
West Field Meadow
A hectare meadow managed for floral diversity surrounded by woodland edge. It has a grass path mown though each year. There are several picnic benches on the edge to sit and enjoy the bird song.
Suggested activities: Picnic, nature walk, meet with friends, bird watching.
