Churchill College marked a significant milestone in its history with the planting of its 1,000th tree by former Master, Professor Dame Athene Donald. The ceremony, attended by Fellows, alumni, staff and students, celebrated both Dame Athene’s decade of leadership as the College’s seventh Master and the continuing growth of Churchill’s landscape and environmental legacy.
The tree chosen for the occasion, a Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata Koster’, is one of the finest cultivated oaks. Elegant and enduring, it naturally retains its graceful shape as it matures, with rich green foliage that turns warm golden brown in autumn. The selection carries particular symbolism. It echoes the Quercus robur oak planted by Sir Winston Churchill himself when the College site was first developed. More than six decades later, Dame Athene has added another oak to the landscape, becoming part of a story that connects the College’s past, present and future.
The tree is also a fitting tribute to Dame Athene’s ten years as Master. Throughout her tenure, she brought not only distinction as a world-renowned physicist, but also a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to ensuring that Churchill continued to evolve while remaining true to its founding values. Speeches from the current Master, Professor Sharon Peacock, Senior Tutor Dr Rita Monson and Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, reflected on the lasting impact of her leadership and her contribution to the College community.
Set within one of the largest and greenest College sites in Cambridge, Churchill’s trees are far more than a defining feature of the landscape. They play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, improving air quality, capturing carbon, reducing flood risk and creating an environment that enhances wellbeing for students, staff, Fellows and visitors alike. As the College has grown and evolved, so too has its commitment to maintaining and increasing both the number and diversity of trees across the estate.
That commitment is underpinned by careful stewardship. In 2023, the College commissioned a comprehensive tree survey and i-Tree assessment, which recorded approximately 950 trees across the site, covering 3.7 hectares of canopy. Together, these trees were estimated to remove almost 9.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, produce 25.75 tonnes of oxygen annually and remove more than 267 kilograms of air pollution. They also help reduce flood risk by intercepting over 530 cubic metres of surface water runoff each year.
Beyond these measurable environmental benefits, the survey highlighted the wider value of the College’s urban forest. Trees provide habitats for insects, birds and mammals, support biodiversity, offer shade and recreational space, and contribute significantly to the distinctive character of Churchill. The College also participates in a range of biodiversity monitoring initiatives, including citizen science projects such as the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and the Big Butterfly Count, in which students and alumni are encouraged to take part.
The findings of the survey are helping to guide the strategic management of Churchill’s landscape, enabling the College to identify opportunities and challenges, allocate resources effectively and ensure its tree population continues to thrive for decades to come.
The planting of the 1,000th tree therefore represents far more than a numerical milestone. It celebrates a decade of leadership by Professor Dame Athene Donald and reinforces Churchill’s commitment to sustainability, biodiversity and long-term stewardship. As each new tree takes root, it strengthens the environmental legacy of the College and helps create a greener, healthier and more resilient campus for future generations.
