Month: January 2022

~ minute read.

Celebrating Silver

January 28, 2022

Penryn and Falmouth campuses have progressed from a bronze to a silver award from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) Hedgehog Friendly Campus programme.

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus project is a UK-wide initiative which aims to turn university campuses into places where hedgehogs can thrive.

Oliver Milliner is Head of Sustainability for Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus), the organisation that looks after services shared between Falmouth University and the University of Exeter at Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

He said: “We’re really pleased to have achieved this silver award and will be aiming for gold next year. Big thanks to all the teams who work together to keep our beautiful grounds full of biodiversity and, of course, hedgehog friendly. I’d also like to thank our Sustainability Intern Amber Brett who put this silver bid together.

“Staff and students have an opportunity to play an active role in what we do in the future so if any of you want to help us get to gold please contact me at sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk”

To earn the silver award, the FX Plus Sustainability and Grounds teams worked together to complete a series of tasks that help to protect and support hedgehog life on campus. These included:

  • Involving the Students’ Union in hedgehog friendly activities.
  • Start working towards pesticide free grounds management.
  • Organising campus litter picks.
  • Increasing the number of hedgehog friendly plants and trees.
  • Creating log piles which are a good hibernation habitat for hedgehogs.

To achieve Gold, FX Plus will need to focus on actions that leave a long-lasting legacy for hedgehogs on campus, such as:

  • Meeting the pesticide reduction targets set at silver.
  • Installation of a hedgehog crossing sign.
  • Setting up hedgehog feeding stations.
  • Establishing a hedgehog society which can run surveys and workshops.
  • Running hedgehog surveys in the local community.

Some facts about hedgehogs:

Since 2020, hedgehogs are listed as ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’ on Britain’s Red List.

They have declined by 50% in rural areas & 30% in urban areas since the year 2000.

Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t eat bread – meaty pet food and fresh water is best if you want to feed wild hedgehogs.

Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets.

Strimmers and mowers can harm hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs hibernate in winter, from around November to March/April.

If you are worried about a hedgehog, contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

~ minute read.

Vegetarian/vegan move for cafe

January 21, 2022

As a result of student feedback, we are pleased to announce that the Sustainability Café is now 100% vegetarian/ vegan.

Newly opened in September 2021, the vibrant café, which boasts spectacular views and contemporary indoor and outdoor seating, has been built using sustainable materials including Forest Stewardship Council certified timber, and furniture fabric made from upcycled, discarded ocean plastics.

The Food and Drink team actively engages with suppliers to reduce the environmental impacts of its operations. Fairtrade and south-west suppliers are sourced for bread, milk, cakes, confectionary, fruit, and vegetables, whenever possible.

The menu has been recently updated to include more vegan and locally sourced produce. Students, staff and campus visitors can enjoy a slice of vegetarian Homity Pie, Mediterranean Pie or gently spiced Chickpea and Spinach Vegan Pie, baked by Devonshire bakers, Peck and Strong. 

Organic vegan/vegetarian soup is made by Rod and Ben’s in Exeter, who only use locally sourced ingredients. Freshly prepared local Prima rolls are available with flavoursome fillings and are plated with seasonal salad and crisps.

Quench your thirst the Cornish way with Jolly’s soft drinks, or enjoy quality Cornish Coffee and Cornish Tregothnan loose leaf teas. A tempting selection of cakes is available including vegan options made by The Exploding Bakery in Devon. Confectionary includes Buttermilk vegan chocolate, made locally in Bodmin with sustainable packaging, and Fairtrade Divine chocolate, and Fairtrade Green & Blacks organic chocolate.

No single-use plastic bottles or disposable cups are available in the café and reusable cups are for sale with a hot drink included on first purchase.

To minimise plastic wastage on campus, a new sustainable milk refill initiative is open to all customers. Buy a litre of Cornish Trewithen Dairy semi-skimmed milk in our branded glass bottles for £3, then bring back your empty bottle and purchase a fresh bottle for £1.10.

To celebrate Veganuary, the Food & Drink team is also offering a small hot box value vegan curry in the Stannary exclusively in January for £2.50 for those wanting to try a vegan offer. Every day our chefs also prepare a hot vegan special in both the Stannary and Fox Café.

If you are craving pizza, Koofi provides vegetarian and vegan pizza as well as a gluten free option.

Our Penryn Campus Shop also has a dedicated vegan section and will be sharing vegan recipes throughout the month – online and in-store. Keep your eyes peeled on the food and drink social media for details and offers.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

~ minute read.

Career Advancement at FX Plus

January 21, 2022

Falmouth Exeter Plus is supporting a change of career direction for Estates team member Charlotte Putnam.

Charlotte, who has been working for Falmouth Exeter Plus since 2018, said the whole move was inspired by working on her grandmother’s home.

She explained: “My grandmother left her property to us and it needed quite a lot of renovation so I did a weekend course in plumbing. I had always wanted to do something like this and the course made me even more keen.”

Charlotte, who had been working with the Estates Helpdesk team, knew she would need a lot more training to realise her aims. She requested and is now a Junior Engineer on the Plant team and recently started a four-year Mechatronics course studying for an Engineering Technician Diploma.

“FX Plus has provided me with the opportunity to do this,” she added. “The fact they are really keen on training their own people makes you feel valued.”

Chris Piper, Head of Estates Operations and Charlotte’s manager, said: “When Charlotte approached me this seemed to be an ideal opportunity to support her in her chosen career path and for Falmouth Exeter Plus to benefit from her skills and enthusiasm. This training package also supports the national drive by WISE.”

WISE aims to support more women to be successful in the UK’s scientific, technology and engineering (STEM) workforce.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.