Five years of growing something special with Hargreaves Lansdown
Five years ago, the patch of grass outside Bristol Cathedral was the sort of space people hurried through rather than stopped to enjoy.
Today, it’s a buzzing, blooming habitat alive with colour, wildlife and community spirit. A visit from Greta Thunberg & community crowdfund kicked it off, but it's the ambitious partnership between us and Hargreaves Lansdown, supported by organisations like Avon Wildlife Trust and Bristol City Council, that has seen this area truly thrive for wildlife.
If you’ve wandered across College Green recently, you’ll have felt the difference. What was once tired, patchy turf has become one of the city's most surprising nature havens. The transformation has been shaped by HL’s long-term commitment to nature recovery, hands-on volunteering and a willingness to back something bold and long-term.
Read on to find out what we’ve achieved together. It’s a story of patience, ecological learning and proper graft, backed up by brand new independent data.
A meadow five years in the making
The numbers speak for themselves. The latest ecological survey shows the meadow now supports over 90 plant species which is more than ten times the diversity found in the surrounding amenity grass. Ox eye daisies, meadow vetchling, wild carrot and yellow rattle now create shifting waves of colour from spring through to autumn.
Of the 110 species sown or planted over the years, 56 were recorded in 2024. That success rate is strong for an urban site with thin soils and heavy footfall. It shows that careful planting, seasonal adjustment and a management plan tailored to the space are paying off.
The meadow is no longer a novelty. It has become a stable, evolving habitat.
A pollinator hotspot in the heart of the city
Despite its small size and the roads circling it, College Green now supports 72 insect species, including:
- 23 species of bee such as leafcutter, mason, furrow and mining bees
- 24 species of flies including hoverflies that depend on ant nests in the meadow
- Multiple butterflies, moths, beetles and bugs, some usually rare in city centres
One of the most encouraging findings is that insects are now completing their full life cycles on the site. They’re not just passing through, but putting down roots. For a city centre space surrounded by hard surfaces, that is a powerful sign of ecological recovery.
Powered by 716 hours of volunteering
HL colleagues haven’t just supported this work financially. They’ve rolled up their sleeves in all seasons, contributing 716 volunteer hours through scything, planting, sowing, weeding and bulb work to keep the new habitats thriving year after year.
That effort keeps the meadow healthy by:
- removing nutrient rich cuttings after the annual mow
- introducing new species at the right time of year
- supporting soil and plant structure
- ensuring the space stays open, seasonal and beautiful
This practical input is one of the partnership’s biggest strengths. It means the meadow isn’t a one off project but a living space with local stewardship and pride behind it.
A test bed that’s now shaping change elsewhere
College Green is more than a lovely view. It has become a small but mighty example of how parks and civic spaces across Bristol and Bath can support nature recovery.
The site is now used as:
- a live demonstration of meadow creation in highly urban settings
- a source of data and learning for future projects
- evidence for councils and partners that nature can thrive in central locations
- a symbol of business stepping up to back local green spaces with real action
The meadow is already informing our wider Nature and Community work, giving us insight into what flourishes, what struggles and how best to maintain resilient habitats.
A partnership built on purpose
HL’s support has:
- funded seed, turf and specialist planting
- enabled the independent ecological survey, giving us robust baseline data to share across the region
- supported long term maintenance rather than short term bursts of activity
- strengthened our relationship with a team that truly champions parks and nature
To quote our CEO, Charlee Bennett:
“This partnership has shown what’s possible when business and community come together for nature. Thanks to HL's support in funding and volunteering, College Green has become a model for urban biodiversity. It’s beautiful, buzzing with life and a source of pride for the city.”
Looking ahead
We’re incredibly proud of what these five years have grown. College Green proves that even the most built up areas can become pockets of real ecological value when given time, care and the right support.
Thank you to everyone at Hargreaves Lansdown for believing in this work, nurturing it and helping it thrive. We look forward to growing the next chapter together.
Let’s keep the buzz going.
