60 Years of Growth
From farmland to campus
In the early 1960s, the University of Kent campus was carved out of three former farms: Brotherhood, Beverley and Hothe Court.
Traces of that farming past are still visible today, from old field boundaries and tracks to paths and woodlands.
The land’s natural contours and watercourses shaped the original campus design and they continue to influence our approach to landscape and biodiversity today.
Nurturing our green spaces
We’re continually caring for and enhancing the natural spaces across our campuses. Over the years we have creating places where people can pause, unwind and feel better, while also boosting the university’s look and supporting wildlife.
Our campus is a tapestry of habitats, from ancient woodland and orchards to meadows, grassland, watercourses and landscaped areas. Every year, we invite the community to help us record the biodiversity across these habitats at our annual Bioblitz.
Each space is managed with care, guided by habitat types, species surveys and on-the-ground expertise, and shaped by a thoughtful mix of modern approaches and time-honoured practices like tree coppicing.
New spaces shaped by nature
The new spaces on our campuses, like the 60th Anniversary Orchard, are created to honour the land’s history while supporting wildlife. Trees are allowed to grow naturally, providing food, shelter, and habitats for birds and insects, as well as calm, welcoming spaces for people to enjoy.
As part of the 60th celebrations, we’re also introducing a new walking trail called the River. Not a real river, but a gently winding path that links the orchard to the Kent Community Oasis Garden.
Along the way, it connects different habitats and plant communities, inviting visitors to explore and discover their value for wildlife, wellbeing, food, and traditional uses.
Flourishing Futures: Food, Nature & Wellbeing
Nature, Food, and Wellbeing guide how we shape our campus green spaces for the future. These bring together the goals of several projects that together build a picture of how we can use our natural spaces more intentionally to support wellbeing.
Kent Community Oasis Garden
Our multi-use space for students, staff and the local community is run in partnership with East Kent Mind.
Nature Positive Universities
We’ve joined the Nature Positive Universities network, a global alliance of higher education institutions committed to halting and reversing nature loss by enhancing biodiversity on campus.
Right to Food University
As a Right to Food University we ensure that the food served on our campus supports health, wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
University of Sanctuary
Having been awarded 'University of Sanctuary' status are committed to creating a place of safety and belonging for all.
Growing our Community Oasis Garden
The doors to Hothe Court Farmhouse have reopened, with plans underway to redevelop it into a thriving hub for wellbeing in nature and the focal point for the Kent Community Oasis Garden with East Kent Mind. Once again, this Grade II Listed Building will be at the heart of agricultural activity, offering everyone in our community a warm and welcoming space to gather and grow.
'It’s a lot of history the house you grew up in. Despite being cold and draughty, [Hothe Court Farmhouse] means a lot to us and it would be nice to see that restored to its health again.’ David Weir formerly owner of Hothe Court.
Kent in full bloom: the facts
1500 species on campus and counting
Over 300 trees planted in the Diamond orchard
903kg of food produced at the Kent COG
300 acres of Canterbury campus
42nd in the People and Planet University League table
Over 1000 great crested newts catalogued on campus
8/24 UK bumblebee species have been found on site
300 breeding individuals of great cested newts on campus
"The University of Kent means a great deal to me and my family.
My grandad, David Ballard, worked here from the University’s opening in 1960 until his retirement in 1996.
Lee Ballard, Grounds, Landscape & Biodiversity Manager