University Parks

Oxford Theatre Guild presents:
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Summer Shakespeare in the Parks!
Tue 16 – Sat 27 Jul

‘Some Cupid kill with arrows, some with traps.’

Join us for a summer of pranks, mischief, and romance at this fun-filled production of Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare’s best-loved rom-com! Watch as the dashing Count Claudio falls for the lovely Hero, while rivals Benedick and Beatrice exchange sharp wits and hidden affections. But not all is as it seems, and the four lovers soon find themselves caught in whirlwind of schemes and surprises.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Oxford University Parks, this timeless tale features colourful characters, clever plots, and heart-warming friendships. Don’t miss this unforgettable open-air theatre experience!

Tickets can be purchased on their website: https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/much-ado-about-nothing

🌷We would love to know what you enjoy most about University Parks and Park Farm.
💻Please complete our quick and confidential user survey to help us improve!
https://forms.gle/pNvvJeJF57ucCxfT8

Join us tomorrow to support all the participants raising money for muscular dystrophy.
Key information
Entries for the 2024 event are now closed
Location: University Parks, Oxford, OX1 3RF
Date: Sunday 12 May 2024
Race Timings:
9.15am- Junior 3k
10.00am- 10k

We'd like to wish all of our visitors a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please note that the Parks will open as usual except for Christmas Eve (24 December) when the Park will remain closed all day. The Parks office will be closed from 21st December to 2nd January. In the event of an emergency, Security Services should be contacted on 01865 272 944.

University Parks gardeners and contractors will be carrying out essential work in the park on Wednesday 26 July
Unfortunately to ensure there is no risk to public safety, the University Parks will be closed that day.

The team expect to be able to re-open the park as normal the following morning. We regret any inconvenience this causes; the Parks team do their best to avoid unscheduled closures, but sometimes considerations of public safety make them inevitable.

We're recruiting for apprentice gardeners to join our team!

The University Parks team has care of the University Parks and all the University’s green functional estate (over 200 sites!).

What we offer?
We have 3 fantastic opportunities to join the University of Oxford as an Apprentice Gardener in the Estates Services, University Parks team. The Apprentice Gardener position is the gateway to a successful and rewarding career in professional horticulture.

As an Apprentice Gardener, you will gain hands-on experience in a variety of horticultural activities as well as receiving formal college-based training to industry standards. You will learn to carry out all forms of garden maintenance, grass and turf care, plant propagation and hard and soft landscaping. The department holds an extensive plant collection which you will have the opportunity to work with. There is an extensive range of horticultural equipment that you will be taught to use in the course of the apprenticeship.

Closing date is midday Tuesday 7 February 2023

Happy Halloween 👻
Descainsnea Fargessii or 'Dead Man's Fingers' ☠👻💀
Autumn shows this deciduous shrub at its best with huge, divided leaves and colourful, fleshy seedpods. The bright blue, finger sized pods hang from the plant as the leaves turn an attractive butter yellow. The unusual seedpods are what gives this plant its common name ‘dead man’s fingers’. The flesh inside the pod is edible and can be sweet tasting, although, the plant is mainly grown for its ornamental value. It is native to Western China and the Himalayas, growing up to 3m (10ft) tall. It is hardy throughout Britain to -15ºC, and the silver bark on the stark branches also makes this an excellent plant to have in winter.

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦!

The University Parks team has care of the University Parks and all the University’s green functional estate (over 200 sites!).

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬?
This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a range of interesting environments with unusual plant collections and you will be joining a vibrant team of circa 30 likeminded individuals.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐱𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝:
- 38 days’ paid holiday
- generous pension schemes
- travel discounts
- a variety of professional development opportunities

For more information on our Senior Gardener position please visit the University jobs website https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/

Closing date is Midday 05-Oct-2022

Parks apprentices complete North Lodge project

Since March, our three Horticultural Apprentices have been busy working on a new project within the University Parks
A small bed at North Lodge entrance has been taken over and filled with a combination of exciting and colourful summer bedding plants, including sweet peas growing over large hazel tripods, bright Tithonia rotundifolia-Mexican sunflowers and Eschscholzia californica-California poppies. This has been planned and designed by the Parks apprentices in combination with their in-house trainer Alan Thewlis.

The apprentices have undertaken all the work themselves including:

Propagating the plants from seed, growing these on in the greenhouse and then picking them out when large enough.
Building the hazel structures and fencing, from hazel they coppiced from within the Parks.
Weeding and preparing the bed before planting it out
The ongoing aftercare including watering, weeding, staking and replacing any failing plants
They have learnt lots from undertaking this project and the bed is currently looking spectacular, so if you haven't popped into the Park recently – come and take a look!

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦!

The University Parks team has care of the University Parks and all the University’s green functional estate (over 200 sites!).

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬?
This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a range of interesting environments with unusual plant collections and you will be joining a vibrant team of circa 30 likeminded individuals.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐱𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝:
- 38 days’ paid holiday
- generous pension schemes
- travel discounts
- a variety of professional development opportunities

For more information on our Senior Gardener position please visit the University jobs website https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/

Closing date is 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟓 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲.

University of Oxford

On April 30th, University Parks hosted 'The Glass of Tutankhamun' for a demonstration and discussion of ancient glass bead-making. Dr Victoria Sainsbury from the School of Archaeology, and Dr Daniela Rosenow from the Griffths Institute, supported by colleges from Berlin and Newcastle, fired a small clay furnace in the Parks and guided visitors in making their very own glass beads. Over 30 participants had an opportunity to try with working with glass, with some beautiful results.

This was part of a series of public events about glass of Tutankhamun and the wider Bronze Age, and was supported by the Association for the History of Glass. This was the first of many events to coincide with the Bodleian Libraries exhibition 'Tutankhamun: Excavating the Archive', celebrating 100 years since the opening of the tomb.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic gardener to join the University Parks team dedicated to maintaining and developing the University Parks. The 70 acre Victorian University Parks is set in the heart of Oxford and provides a unique blend of amenity and recreational space. It is one of the few parks still in private ownership and is listed grade II by Historic England. It is a much valued green space frequented by members of the University, local residents and oxford’s tourists, attracting thousands of visitors each year. For more information or to apply, please use the link to our website: https://www.parks.ox.ac.uk/jobs-and-vacancies

We are now open. Thank you for your patience. ☔🌳

Be Aware: University Parks Closure

Please be aware that due to the bad weather, University Parks and Mesopotamia will be closed to all users from 18 February 2022.

The Parks will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Park is OPEN