Opening of the Community Garden
A cozy meeting place for students and staff, that was the idea of first-year student Lauren Fergus. On March 12, the Community Garden officially opens its green doors! A space where volunteers come together, escape the digital world and hectic everyday life, and take a moment to breathe.
A meeting place for students and staff
Lauren envisioned a dedicated space on the edge of the campus where flowers could bloom, vegetables could grow, and members of the Tilburg University community could spend time outdoors together. Not solely to provide fresh air, but also to foster social encounters and inspiration, as community building was a specific focus along with digital detoxing.
Sustainability
The Community Garden aligns with Tilburg University's strategic plans in the field of sustainability, including promoting biodiversity, more effective management of excess rainwater, and realizing a circular campus. Additionally, the artwork 'Nature-Culture' by artist Roel Teeuwen, previously located in the courtyard of the demolished Prisma building, will be relocated to the communal garden. To make the garden fully accessible to the campus, the final fences around Academia will be removed.
Design and implementation phase
The enthusiasm for Lauren's idea was shared by David Peeters, president of Tilburg Young Academy (TiYA), and a group of students affiliated with TiYA, leading to the realization of the Community Garden. The design was created by landscape architect Studio Redd in collaboration with the community. The implementation phase commenced with the 'tile flipping' event on July 6, 2023, where the community removed the existing pavement.
Paulina Snijders, on behalf of the Tilburg University Executive Board, removed the first tile. After the opening, the community continues to actively contribute by building a compost heap and actively gardening in the vegetable garden plots.
‘’I am very proud of this student and staff initiative that contributes both to our green and sustainable campus, and to the well-being of our staff and students. I hope that it really will be a Community Garden were students and staff will meet and work on the garden together.’’
- Paulina Snijders, Vice-President of Tilburg University Executive Board
Official opening
On March 12 the Community Garden will officially be opened. Wilma de Koning, on behalf of the Tilburg University Executive Board, will perform the opening and transfer the communal space to the users. Do you want to attend the event? Sign up for the opening and we will see you there!