Green award for biodiversity passionate students

National Star has been presented with a prestigious Green Award at BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s ‘Make a Difference’ Awards after student and staff made efforts to preserve Ullenwood’s hedgehog population.

Students Laurie B and George D and their families were guests of honour at the awards in recognition of the effort they had both made to help the college achieve Platinum Hedgehog Friendly Campus status. Personal Learning Co-ordinator Jane Forsyth, who has supported students to take part in numerous hedgehog audits, was also in attendance.

National Star scooped the top award after improving the habitats of hedgehogs by:

• Planting more than 4,500 native saplings across Ullenwood to create wildlife corridors for hedgehogs to roam freely.
• Installing wildlife watering stations across campus ready for when thirsty hedgehogs come out of hibernation
• Working in partnership with The Woodland Trust to install hedgehog houses for hibernating hedgehogs.
• Undertaking a series of talks to Gloucestershire businesses, Brownie groups and Planet Cheltenham to raise awareness of what everyone can do to support hedgehogs in their local communities.
• ‘Adopting’ Clyde Crescent Park in Oakley, Cheltenham to undertake regular litter picking sessions as we recognise that litter is a major hazard to the local hedgehog population.
• Undertaking a Hedgehog Survey to map the numbers of hedgehogs living in the Ullenwood area.

National Star has recently been named as one of only 16 education institutions nationally to be accepted onto a ‘Nature Friendly Grounds’ accreditation pilot, working closely with other top UK universities and FE colleges.

‘I am incredibly proud that the efforts of students and staff have been recognised in this way. Achieving Platinum Hedgehog Friendly Campus status in 2025 was the result of fours years of hard work and this award is public recognition of everyone’s efforts,’ said Head of Sustainability Elaine Hodgin.

Discover more about National Star’s goal to become a more sustainable organisation.