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Grounds and Gardens

Grounds & Gardens

The grounds and gardens team are responsible for all the grass cutting, weed control, tree work, litter & bins, internal floral displays, annual bedding, snow clearing & gritting, as well as the provision of 66 acres of artificial and natural turf for sports. We also offer advice on landscape design and construction.

Venn Building, University of Hull

The department has 16 staff spread across 4 locations (Cottingham Road campus, Sports Grounds, Botanic Gardens/Thwaite Hall and the Lawns) between them they maintain 213 acres.

There is also the University of Hull Scarborough Campus who have their own maintenance team.

The University of Hull grounds were the winners of the Gold award for the Yorkshire in Bloom competition 2007.

To hear more about what is happening at the moment in the grounds and gardens please visit Grounds and Gardens Update - June 2010.

University of Hull, Sports Grounds

Sports Grounds

The site is 148 acres, of which 35 acres are dedicated to sports provision, (11 football pitches, 2 rugby union pitches, 1 rugby league pitch, 1 american football pitch, 1 cricket pitch, a full sized astro turf pitch, 3G full size and mini MUGA pitches and an all weather playing surface. All bookings for these facilities are done though the Sports and Fitness Centre. The sports grounds also play host to various school competitions and football association events.

Thwaite Hall and Botanic Gardens

Thwaite Hall has belonged to the University of Hull since 1928, the House/Hall has been extended several times to accommodate an increasing student population. The grounds, together with the Botanical Gardens, total 31 acres, and make up 10% of the Cottingham Conservation Area. There is a large woodland and lake (no swimming allowed) and the site has many rare and unusual trees and shrubs. It's facilities include 2 tarmac tennis courts and a hard surface multisports area.

The Friends of Thwaite Gardens hold an Open Day for people who wish to see the gardens.

Aerial Shot of the Lawns, Cottingham

The Lawns

The Lawns is set in 39 acres of attractive parkland three miles from the main University campus. It is a perfect venue for trade fairs, exhibitions and outdoor events. It is also an ideal venue for private functions providing a dance floor, bar and excellent catering and parking facilitites for up to 300 guests.

There are 7 individual Halls of Residence.

The Lawns facilities include two full sized grass football pitches on Park Lane.

Policies

Recycling

There are 2 recycling points at the university. The computer centre for all monitors and computer related goods and the west campus for cookers, fridges, metals and electrical waste. For more information on access contact Trevor Savage at 53 Salmon Grove on extn 5044 or email T.N.Savage@hull.ac.uk.

If you require a fridge/cooker or large items/s to be removed from OUTSIDE a property, please ensure the item is empty of all loose parts before contacting the maintenance helpdesk on extn 5209 who will raise the appropriate paperwork.

Green Waste

Through the purchase of 2 shredders and a wood chipper the section now recycles 90% of its green waste back onto the beds or pathways. The large material we can not recycle, eg large logs, is available free to anyone who would like to collect. This has saved several hundred pounds in skip use.

Use of Chemicals

The section limits its use of chemicals through using bark mulch & through the use of products such as Round Up Pro Bioactive, one of the most environmentally safe chemicals available. We have been experimenting with weed burners as an alternative to chemicals, however as yet a satisfactory machine is not available.

Memorial Seats and Trees

We have several memorialised seats and trees on the campus. We are sympathetic to the need for a person attached to the campus to be remembered by their colleagues and therefore take each case on its merits. Please contact Joe Garner to discuss any requirements.

Biodiversity

The University of Hull is strongly committed to improving its biodiversity across its campuses. For further information please refer to the University's Policy Document.

Heath & Safety Policy

University of Hull Health and Safety Policies

Risk assessments

The grounds and gardens section of the maintenance department carry out and document risk assessments on all the hazardous activities that are carried out as part of our maintenance regime. Inline with current and forthcoming legislation we are identifying those machines that present a risk to the user of vibration and talking the necessary steps to limit the danger to the user.

Occupational Health

We work closely with Occupational Health to ensure all staff health issues are correctly monitored and managed.

Tree Policy

We endeavour to inspect all campus trees at least once a year. These inspections are used as a basis for a winter work programme that is mainly carried out by the specially trained inhouse work force. The majority of these trees have been numbered and entered onto a plan of the campus. If any time you have any concerns or queries regarding any University of Hull trees please contact the maintenance helpdesk on extn 5209.