Sustainability round-up: our recent highlights from across the college

Sustainability continues to be a key focus across Abingdon & Witney College, with several exciting projects and initiatives helping to create a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible college community. Here's a look at what we've been up to lately and the positive impact these initiatives are having across our campuses and beyond.

Biodiversity and Sensory Garden

One of the most visible developments is the new Biodiversity and Sensory Garden at Abingdon Campus. Designed as an inclusive outdoor space, the garden will offer a rich sensory experience through sound, sight, smell and touch, while providing opportunities to learn about native plants, pollinators and local biodiversity. The project has already received fantastic support from staff, who donated cardboard to help prepare the site using natural weed-suppression methods. This autumn, volunteers will also help plant more than 1,000 native spring-flowering bulbs, creating an important early nectar source for pollinators. The garden will continue to evolve throughout the seasons, becoming an ever-growing resource for learning, wellbeing and nature.

Staff sustainability training programme

This autumn also sees the launch of a new staff sustainability training programme. Led by Environmental and Sustainability Manager Liz Williams and Retrofit and Sustainability Lecturer, Nyomi, the programme forms part of the College's Sustainability Strategy and aims to build confidence and knowledge across all staff. Through a series of online and in-person sessions, colleagues will explore topics including carbon footprints, embedding sustainability within the curriculum, and the relationship between sustainability and technologies such as AI.

Toilet Twinning Campaign

Through our recently launched Toilet Twinning campaign, we're raising awareness of global sanitation challenges. So far, a charity football match during Community Outreach Day has raised £181, enough to fund three toilets in communities without access to safe sanitation. Throughout the year, proceeds from Abingdon & Witney College branded reusable water bottle sales as well as staff and student fundraising activities will help drive the campaign forward, supporting our commitment to sustainability, global responsibility and positive social impact.

The College’s first fully electric minibus

The College has also taken a significant step towards reducing travel emissions with the arrival of its first fully electric minibus this September.

Environmental and Sustainability Manager Liz Williams said:

"The introduction of our first fully electric minibus marks an important milestone in our journey towards net zero. We're delighted to see another key commitment becoming a reality."

As these projects continue to grow and develop, they represent just some of the ways the College is working towards a more sustainable future, inspiring staff, students and the wider community to make a positive difference.