Nature Positive University Alliance
The University continues to be a member of the Nature Positive University Alliance (NPUA), a global network of universities that have pledged to work towards a global “nature positive” goal in order to halt, prevent and reverse nature loss through addressing their own impacts and restoring ecosystems harmed by their activities.
Several students from the University have become Student Ambassadors for NPUA, allowing them to join an international network of students wanting to make changes for nature on their campus. The students have had access to resources and training, volunteering opportunities and workshops to help them to make changes on campus and gain skills that will help them in their future careers.
Langley Mead
Langley Mead is a University of Reading owned site consisting of over 18 hectares of countryside along the banks of the River Loddon, made accessible to the public for recreation and enjoyment as a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG). The site has been the subject of an ongoing project to restore agricultural land back to the biodiverse landscape that once existed there. The project is led by University of Reading as part of development proposals for the South of the M4 Strategic Development Location (SDL). It aims to create an area that provides a visually stimulating, attractive and educational environment for local people to visit and to enjoy.
Outdoor Learning Spaces
In collaboration with local schools, a number of outdoor learning spaces have been created and identified for use on the Langley Mead site. An designated area of ancient woodland is to be used by local school groups to help those who struggle with engaging with learning in a classroom environment, to help promote more informal learning opportunities. A meadow classroom has also been created next to St Mary’s school to help enhance environmental education. The site benefits from the creation of a wildlife pond, bee mounds and habitat boxes for birds and hedgehogs to help promote and enhance local biodiversity.
Meadow Restoration
Arable farmland at Langley Mead is being steadily restored into meadow habitats to help sustain local biodiversity. This transition has seen an increase in native wildflowers, and the subsequent return of a more diverse habitat for pollinators, birds and small mammals. To further promote meadow habitats and their importance to biodiversity, the Estates team at the University have been increasing awareness within the local community by offering learning opportunities and events on site, such as National Meadows Day on the 4th of July. This day allowed visitors to take a guided tour through the meadows at Langley Mead. There was also an information stall, self-guided walks and a wildlife activity sheet for children to ensure the day, and the environment, could be enjoyed by all.
Ecological Surveys
The sites at Langley Mead are regularly surveyed and monitored by ecologists, to prove and ensure that any work conducted by our estates team on site, not only protects existing wildlife, but also enhances it. This has led to the protection of Ancient Woodland habitats and changes to mowing schedules to accommodate nesting birds.
University of Reading Nature Park and Learning Garden
Nature Park
In June 2026, as part of our centenary celebrations and building on our legacy of outdoor, climate and sustainability education, we launched the University of Reading Nature Park programme. To mark the occasion, we opened the programme's flagship outdoor Learning Garden.
The Nature Park breaks down barriers to environmental and outdoor education. Local schools, nurseries and colleges can engage with free nature-based learning experiences across our campuses. Activities primarily take place on our Whiteknights campus, which supports a variety of habitats and is home to over 2,000 species of plants, animals, and fungi.
As part of the Nature Park programme, pupils can visit habitats including the Harris Garden, the Wilderness and meadows. They can also use our dedicated Learning Garden, which offers themed outdoor learning activities. These activities explore local, national, and global climate, biodiversity, and sustainability challenges, while highlighting the pioneering research the University conducts in these fields.
We are pleased to work with the Natural History Museum and Royal Horticultural Society supporting the National Education Nature Park programme as a pilot Nature Park delivery affiliate.
Learning Garden
Located within the historic walled garden in the Harris Garden on the University’s Whiteknights campus, the Learning Garden is a new ‘living laboratory’ designed to support environmental education for school pupils, students and the wider community.
Designed to support learners of all ages and abilities, the Learning Garden features five themed zones exploring:
- Climate change. Explore drivers and impacts of climate change. Learn what our local flora could look like in future based on increased temperature predictions.
- Value of nature. Showcases the biodiversity of ecosystems found in Britain and the threats they face.
- Food production and security. Consider sustainable and unsustainable farming practices and the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on food systems.
- Changing hydrology. Explore the variable water conditions driven by climate change including water cycles and issues such as flooding and drought.
- Taking action. Designed to demonstrate actions visitors can take within their education or residential settings to increase biodiversity and climate resilience.
The Learning Garden has been designed for students of all ages.
Access is primarily intended for:
- visiting groups of school children from Early Years to Further Education
- University of Reading student and staff groups
- local community groups.
The garden also provides opportunities for trainee and qualified teachers to confidently lead and teach around climate and sustainability.