The University’s Environmental Sustainability team, Professor Jennifer O’Brien and Ardwick Climate Action have organised the Sunny Campus Project. This project aims to populate our campus with sunflowers in late August and early September to celebrate the Medebridge Solar Farm, which as of September 2025 powers 65% of our University’s electrical supply.

A planting session was held at Ardwick Climate Allotment (located down the side of Kilburn Building and behind St. Peter’s House) to kick-start the project on 25 March 2026.

Despite the less-than-optimal weather conditions, Gordon Flear of Ardwick Climate Action, estimated that over 500 sunflowers were planted. This is all thanks to the amazing volunteers who showed up to the session, despite the rain and snow.

Alongside campus locations, staff and students will also be encouraged to grow the flowers at home or in their offices and submit their experiences to be featured on our social media channels. Many staff members are looking to organise growing competitions within their offices to encourge engagement with the initiative.

Not only are sunflowers a symbol of light and of growth, but they are also deeply connected to The University of Manchester’s history through Mathematician Alan Turing’s project studying the spiral in the head of the flower. With this in mind, whether it is images, artwork or creative pieces, we are welcoming all submissions that celebrate the flower and what it represents as we move into a greener and more sustainable future.

• Please contact es@manchester.ac.uk for more information around this initiative.