Middlesex University has twice been named a finalist in the ‘Facilities and Services’ category of this year’s Green Gown Awards for its MDX Goes Green and MDXFreewheelers initatives.

With sustainability moving up the agenda, the Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the further and higher education sector.

MDX Goes Green is the University’s Biodiversity Action Plan. Its first phase has benefitted the Hendon campus through relaxed mowing to allow natural grass and habitats to thrive, pond refurbishments to enhance the surrounding areas, and the introduction of log piles and a native species hedge to encourage local wildlife.

Its next phase will begin in October – as well as new signs to help the community identify the environment around them, pond maintenance and bulb planting will be launched with help from MDXSU and student volunteers.

MDXFreewheelers is a free campus cycle hire scheme that provides an option for alternative, sustainable travel. Having launched in January, students and staff are encouraged to keep fit, save money and save the environment by getting around campus, Allianz Park and the University’s halls by bike.

Mark Wilkinson, Environmental Manager in the Estates and Facilities Management Service, is proud of the University’s progress on Sustainability which has now moved beyond the university’s environmentally-friendly BREEAM ‘Excellent Buildings’.

“I’m really pleased that both our initiatives have been recognised as finalists at the Green Gown Awards,” he says.

“These partnership-based schemes have involved work with the London Wildlife Trust, Equal Bikes and the Middlesex University Students’ Union, and have been a conscious effort by the Middlesex Environmental Team to focus on activities that engage students in sustainability.”

The Green Gown Awards were established in 2004 to recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by universities and colleges in regions across the world. This year, the finalists represent nearly 1.5 million students and almost 250,000 staff across the UK and Ireland who are leaders in the field.

The winners will be announced at the Green Gown Awards Ceremony in November.

Find out more about sustainability at Middlesex and the MDXFreewheelers cycle scheme.