The University of Reading is one of the greenest campuses in the UK, and it has already won nine Green Flag Awards. This uni received its royal charter to grant degrees in 1926 and was one of the only institutions to receive this status between the world wars. Though many of the buildings on the Whiteknights Campus are quite school like in my opinion, the green spaces such as the lake and Harris Gardens make up for this. The lake is probably one my favourite places, because of the peaceful atmosphere and scenery here. This makes it an ideal spot to recuperate and be close to nature too.

One of my favourite spots to see the lake is by Lakeside Bridge, which is in walking distance of Bridges Halls and RUSU. Here you can see families of ducks (including baby ones) and even fish. Most of the time, it’s very quiet here and the air is filled with the sound of ducks quacking and water gushing.

When standing on this bridge, take a moment to look at all the different sights around you… Take the time to look at the lake and trees ahead of you. Take the time to see the ducks and the fish. Sometimes, you may even spot squirrels too. Do you notice that the lake on some days is more shallow than other days? Each time you cross the bridges over the lake, I’d recommend doing this. It’s a great way to clear your mind and appreciate the little things in life…

On sunny days, I particularly enjoy walking down the woodland walks, which leads from the Friends Bridge to the Park Group Halls on the other side. This presented the opportunity for some photography too. The best photos are taken using the HDR setting on your camera. You can take some incredible photos of the ducks (including baby ones) and the lake, which is perfect for that Instagram post. On rainy days, the pathways can get quite marshy though, so it’s better to wear washable shoes. Definitely not a great idea to wear those new leather shoes.

This campus is also classed as a redbrick university with much of this heritage reflected on the London Road Campus. Though much of the redbrick buildings on Whiteknights are gradually being phased out, some still remain… My favourite redbrick building has to be Foxhill House, which is located within walking distance of the Park Group Halls. From the balcony, you can see some incredible views of the lake across the freshly cut lawns. On sunny days, this is an optimal spot to have a picnic with your friends and family.

Overall, the lake is one of several great green spots on the Whiteknights Campus. Though some of the buildings such as URS and Edith Morley are quite outdated, the lake compensates for this. Whether it’s going for a stroll, having a picnic, or seeing the ducks, there’s something for everyone to do here. What’s your favourite activity to do by the lake? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Written by guest writer, the author of The Brown Minimalist blog.

We would love to see your photos of our campuses – the more ducks the better :).