Univ’s Mulberry Lawn at the Univ North site provided a huge welcome for almost 100 pre-school children this July, with a special interactive zone just around the corner from which the site could be viewed safely by the children.

With diggers, sandpits, colouring and refreshments, our small visitors enjoyed meeting members of the SDC construction team, seeing the crane, which is named Sparkle in action and waving to the crane operator.

Rebecca Hudgell, Nursery Lead, Kids Planet, said: “What a fantastic outing for the children. Our children were so engaged and completely in awe of the crane and building site. It was a special trip out for them, and I am sure they will be talking about cranes for days!”

The Univ North development will provide about 120 bedspaces, gym, café, meeting spaces and new 54 place nursery for Univ’s students, staff and academics. The nursery is purpose-built with an engaging outdoor area designed to drive a child’s curiosity for the natural world and creative outdoor play.

Angela Unsworth MBE, Domestic Bursar at University College, Oxford, and lead for the new nursery, said: “It is wonderful to see the children making the most of their surroundings, interested in hoardings with the coloured pictures and crane names that their fellow nursery friends had created, as well as some hoardings by the Mulberry Lawn that our own students have recently painted. Univ is all about community and it is wonderful to see this on our Univ North site as it starts to take shape.”

George Ilett, Relationship Manager, SDC, said: “We were so pleased to welcome the children from Kids Planet to our Univ North site, and even more pleased that the children enjoyed themselves. We arranged this visit to allow the children to see the tower crane, which was given the name ‘Sparkle’ by one of the children who won our Name the Crane competition. It was great to see the children so excited by the crane and all the activity happening on site. SDC remains proud to be delivering this transformational scheme for University College, Oxford.”

The Univ North development will increase childcare provision for Univ’s students, staff, and academics, which will help to support more families during their academic journey. In addition, new, energy efficient buildings and renovated buildings, will provide high quality facilities for our members. Rejuvenated heritage orchards and landscaping will create a wonderful, shared space for our students, staff, academics, nursery school children and the Fairfield Residential Home community, to enjoy. The nursery building roof has been constructed and internal services are now being installed. The completion of the nursery is expected in early 2025.

For more information about Univ North.
Please view our Univ North Photo Book to see more about the progress of our Univ North development.

Published: 7 August 2024

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