Oxford University takes proactive measures to protect the lawn of the Museum of Natural History

Updated 27 June, 2024

Oxford University to return lawn outside the Museum of Natural History to public use

The University is taking steps to return the lawn outside the Museum of Natural History to public use. Every summer the area is used as a place to relax and picnic by many of the thousands of visitors, including families, who we welcome to the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers each day. The University is responsible for this area and takes the health and safety of its staff, students and visitors incredibly seriously. The priority is therefore to remove any hazards to the public that may have been left, as well as to avoid further damage to the lawn, irrigation system and the membrane that protects vital library collections underground.

Plants removed from the lawn can be collected from University Parks nurseries.

Contrary to images appearing on social media, any plants were carefully removed by hand by gardeners from the University Parks team and are currently being watered and cared for in the University Parks nurseries should their owners wish to collect them. For health and safety reasons, a mechanical scoop was required to remove a heavy and haphazardly constructed structure that had been created out of wooden pallets and the large amounts of soil that had been brought on-site. Any effects belonging to the encampment members, including banners, leaflets, and flags, have been placed into a secure store and are available to be collected.

A thorough clean of the space will now be undertaken to ensure that it is safe, as well as an assessment to determine the extent of the damage to the lawn, and any remedial work required. Initial inspections indicate that the newly laid lawn has sunk due to the volume of people on the site and is likely to need to be re-laid in the future. We look forward to seeing this area put back to public use as a space for everyone to enjoy.

Oxford University takes proactive measures to protect the lawn of the Museum of Natural History

"The lawn outside the Museum of Natural History is an important space for our many visitors to enjoy and relax in. We have temporarily fenced off the area in preparation for returning it to public use, to avoid further damage to the lawn and to remove any hazards to the public that may have been left. We are also looking to prevent damage to the lawn’s irrigation system and associated warranties, the protective membrane for the lawn and the museum collections beneath. This land is for everyone at the University and our visitors, and we are taking these steps in the interest of public safety and preserving our own property and collections.

Over the last week the encampment members were informed on several occasions that there could be no gardening and urgent action was required when they advertised today’s event yesterday morning."