Exeter College achieves ‘Beyond Gold’ in Green Impact Awards

Exeter College’s commitment to environmental sustainability has been recognised with a ‘Beyond Gold’ Award at the University of Oxford’s 2025 Sustainability Showcase, held on 19 June. This marks a major milestone in the College’s sustainability journey, having secured Gold Awards for two consecutive years. 

Exeter College’s Beyond Gold Award.

The College’s ability to pursue the ‘Beyond Gold’ category was thanks in large part to the leadership of former Sustainability Officer, Peter Nitsche-Whitfield, whose coordination of the Green Impact initiative helped secure back-to-back Golds – without which the College would not be eligible for Beyond Gold. Building on this foundation, Exeter launched an ambitious new project to revitalise the College-owned Atkins Woodland as its Beyond Gold initiative. 

Located just outside the city, the Atkins Woodland offers an ideal habitat for barred grass snakes, featuring sunlit clearings, scrub mosaics, decaying vegetation for egg-laying, hibernation sites, and natural water sources. Exeter’s Green Impact team responded with a targeted conservation strategy: thinning overgrown vegetation, removing litter, creating nesting sites, and restoring water sources to encourage the snake population to thrive. 

This biodiversity project was complemented by a series of other initiatives to reduce waste and cut emissions, securing Beyond Gold at the annual Sustainability Showcase. 

Congratulations to Juliet Tye, Sustainability Officer, and her Green Impact team on this exceptional achievement. Their hard work and vision continue to drive forward Exeter’s environmental commitments. 

Members of the Green Impact Team and Sustainability Officer, Juliet Tye with the Beyond Gold Award.

This hands-on ecological work reflects the College’s commitment to improving biodiversity across our estate.  

Learn more about the Green Impact Team and Exeter’s sustainability initiatives here