St Mary’s student sports teams and societies banded together this week (15th February, 2023) to take part in a litter pick of Radnor Gardens and the surrounding Strawberry Hill area, in collaboration with the Strawberry Hill Residents Association.
As part of the Students’ Union’s Volunteering Week, over 40 students, primarily from the Fishing Society, Creative Writing Society, and the Men’s Rugby League team, spent part of the day working alongside local community members to ensure the local area – one of London’s leafiest suburbs – is kept in top condition.
The event, the largest volunteering venture of this year to date, fell on Student Volunteering Week, an event which was established by the Student Volunteering Network to celebrate the impact of student volunteers and encourage students to engage in civic life.
St Mary’s supports its students in finding volunteering opportunities to make positive changes in their local community, improve their skills, and gain valuable experience. Students are encouraged to explore their options at home and abroad, through a dedicated careers service.
There is a strong connection between these endeavours and the values of the University. As a Catholic University, St Mary’s has a clear mission to empower its community to have a positive impact on the world. The University, which is well-known for its strong community, amongst students of all faiths, and of no faith, is a product of this mission and the values that underpin it.
Radnor Gardens borders University land, and sits adjacent to Strawberry Hill House. The gardens include a summerhouse and gazebo from the mid-18th century, during the period when poet Alexander Pope was a local. A cafe, and play area are also on site, and fishing is permitted with a licence.
The University is at the heart of Richmond-upon-Thames borough, which houses London's most recognisable green spaces, with Kew Gardens to the north, Richmond Park to the south, and the River Thames to the west.
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