Learning Garden grows University’s legacy for next century

The University of Reading has launched its new Learning Garden, a flagship project for its centenary year that will provide a lasting legacy for generations to come.

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.

The project is a central part of the University’s centenary celebrations in 2026, reflecting its long-standing commitment to environment and climate education, and its ambition to inspire the next century of learning, research and community engagement.

The development has been made possible through a combination of University investment and the generous support of donors to the University’s Centenary Fund. The overall project represents an investment of close to £1 million, demonstrating the enormous ongoing value of philanthropy to the University’s mission.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said:

“Launching the Learning Garden in our centenary year reflects our educational heritage, the urgent challenges we face around climate change and biodiversity, and our responsibility to future generations.

“This remarkable space is designed to inspire curiosity, build understanding and empower young people to take action. It will benefit not only our own students, but also local schools and communities for many years to come. It’s a superb addition to our beautiful Harris Gardens.

“We are incredibly grateful to the donors and supporters whose generosity has helped bring this project to life. Their philanthropy has created a lasting legacy that will enable thousands of learners to connect with nature and develop the green skills we need for the future.” 

The Learning Garden was launched during Reading Climate Festival, and is also a key part of the University’s year-round engagement with schools across the region. Following a successful pilot programme that has already welcomed over 1,500 pupils, the University is now inviting schools to book visits for academic year 2026/27.

Designed to support learners of all ages and abilities, the Learning Garden features five themed zones exploring:

The garden’s launch is part of the University of Reading wider Nature Park initiative and its newly announced affiliation with the National Education Nature Park programme. The National Education Nature Park programme is led by the Natural History Museum working with the Royal Horticultural Society and additional partners and is commissioned and funded by the Department for Education. It supports children and young people at schools, nurseries and colleges in England to connect with nature and enhance biodiversity on their grounds, with nearly 10,000 settings signed up so far.