Christ Church Head Gardener recognised at Sustainability Awards

Christ Church’s Head Gardener John James has been recognised at the Vice-Chancellor’s 2023 awards ceremony for environmental sustainability.

Christ Church’s Head Gardener John James has been recognised at the Vice-Chancellor’s 2023 awards ceremony for environmental sustainability.

Hosted by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, the ceremony at the Bodleian Libraries Divinity School celebrated the contributions of the University community towards the University’s strategic environmental goals of net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain by 2035.

The Christ Church Floodplain Meadow Restoration, spearheaded by John James, was Runner Up in the Environmental Sustainability Project Awards category.

The judges said of the project: “The Christ Church Floodplain Meadow Restoration project has revived floral biodiversity in the area, with sightings of species integral to the resilience of meadows including yellow rattle.

“The project included spreading green hay and, where needed, new seeds or plug plants have been thoughtfully introduced.

“Not unlike a good ecosystem the Christ Church garden team has worked in collaboration with a great deal of partners including writer and environmentalist Catriona Bass, as well as her two projects: Thames Valley Wildflower Meadow Restoration and Care Farming.”

In addition, “Summer Radiance”, an image by Jake Dudderidge Christ Church MBiol Biology student, won third place in the Sustainability Photographer of the Year Award.

Jake said that his image was of “a female Broad-Bodied Chaser Dragonfly in the spring sunshine, a glowing symbol of the wonder of the natural world. A beacon of hope for a sustainable future”.

  • Christ Church Meadow prior to hay cut in mid-July, mainly grasses and thistles
    Christ Church Meadow prior to hay cut in mid-July, mainly grasses and thistles.
  • Long Mead in mid-June
    Long Mead in mid-June.
  • Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut
    Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut.
  • Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut
    Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut.
  • Flail mowing off the excess grass
    Flail mowing off the excess grass.
  • Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
    Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
  • Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
    Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
  • Soil cultivation complete, ready for the green hay to be spread
    Soil cultivations complete, ready for the green hay to be spread.
  • The area in the foreground hasn’t been cultivated as it has a strong population of cowslips
    The area in the foreground hasn’t been cultivated as it has a strong population of cowslips that we don’t want to lose.
  • The donor meadow ready to be cut.
    The donor meadow ready to be cut. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • The donor meadow ready to be cut
    The donor meadow ready to be cut. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Yellow Rattle in the donor meadow
    Yellow Rattle in the donor meadow. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Chain harrow to level off any lumps before sowing
    Chain harrow to level off any lumps before sowing. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester
    Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester
    Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Close up of green hay with plenty of seedpods in it
    Close up of green hay with plenty of seedpods in it. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • The green hay arrives at Christ Church
    The green hay arrives at Christ Church. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Loading the green hay into a muck spreader
    Loading the green hay into a muck spreader. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Spreading the green hay
    Spreading the green hay. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Spreading the green hay
    Spreading the green hay. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Catriona Bass raking out some areas where the hay was too thick
    Catriona Bass raking out some areas where the hay was too thick. (Photo © Kevan Martin)
  • Rolling to ensure good seed/soil contact
    Rolling to ensure good seed/soil contact. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Meadow Rue at Long Mead
    Meadow Rue at Long Mead.
  • Meadow Rue at Long Mead
    Meadow Rue at Long Mead.
  • Great Burnet at Long Mead
    Meadow Rue at Long Mead.
  • Lady’s Bedstraw at Long Mead
    Lady’s Bedstraw at Long Mead.
  • Tubular Water Dropwort and Silverweed in Christ Church Meadow
    Tubular Water Dropwort and Silverweed in Christ Church Meadow, some of the few surviving species from the lost flora.
  • Christ Church Meadow prior to hay cut in mid-July, mainly grasses and thistles
    Christ Church Meadow prior to hay cut in mid-July, mainly grasses and thistles.
  • Long Mead in mid-June
    Long Mead in mid-June.
  • Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut
    Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut.
  • Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut
    Christ Church Meadow after the initial hay cut.
  • Flail mowing off the excess grass
    Flail mowing off the excess grass.
  • Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
    Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
  • Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
    Soil cultivation using a shallow rotovator
  • Soil cultivation complete, ready for the green hay to be spread
    Soil cultivations complete, ready for the green hay to be spread.
  • The area in the foreground hasn’t been cultivated as it has a strong population of cowslips
    The area in the foreground hasn’t been cultivated as it has a strong population of cowslips that we don’t want to lose.
  • The donor meadow ready to be cut.
    The donor meadow ready to be cut. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • The donor meadow ready to be cut
    The donor meadow ready to be cut. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Yellow Rattle in the donor meadow
    Yellow Rattle in the donor meadow. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Chain harrow to level off any lumps before sowing
    Chain harrow to level off any lumps before sowing. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester
    Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester
    Harvesting the green hay at Long Mead with a direct cut forage harvester (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Close up of green hay with plenty of seedpods in it
    Close up of green hay with plenty of seedpods in it. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • The green hay arrives at Christ Church
    The green hay arrives at Christ Church. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Loading the green hay into a muck spreader
    Loading the green hay into a muck spreader. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Spreading the green hay
    Spreading the green hay. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Spreading the green hay
    Spreading the green hay. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Catriona Bass raking out some areas where the hay was too thick
    Catriona Bass raking out some areas where the hay was too thick. (Photo © Kevan Martin)
  • Rolling to ensure good seed/soil contact
    Rolling to ensure good seed/soil contact. (Photo © Catriona Bass)
  • Meadow Rue at Long Mead
    Meadow Rue at Long Mead.
  • Meadow Rue at Long Mead
    Meadow Rue at Long Mead.
  • Great Burnet at Long Mead
    Meadow Rue at Long Mead.
  • Lady’s Bedstraw at Long Mead
    Lady’s Bedstraw at Long Mead.
  • Tubular Water Dropwort and Silverweed in Christ Church Meadow
    Tubular Water Dropwort and Silverweed in Christ Church Meadow, some of the few surviving species from the lost flora.
A female Broad-Bodied Chaser Dragonfly in the spring sunshine

A female Broad-Bodied Chaser Dragonfly in the spring sunshine, a glowing symbol of the wonder of the natural world. A beacon of hope for a sustainable future. Image: Jake Dudderidge