www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 25 November 2013 Issue 1281 Free
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
MEN VS MAKEUP A mission to beautify armed with
brushes, blusher and bravado p.19
ARACHNID ASCENT p.33
Est 1948
BUSH TUCKER TRAUMA p.29
Cuts threaten ‘magical’ Moorbank
Image: Friends of Moorbank
By Tanya Nies The future of Moorbank botanical gardens is under threat due to a decision by the University to cut its funding. Although owned by the Freemen of Newcastle, the University has up until now leased the gardens for research purposes. The 90-year-old institution has been used for Biology undergraduate study as well as being a facility for postgraduate and PhD study that has included in-depth research into water loss and dementia. Professor Steve Homans, Pro-ViceChancellor of the SAgE faculty stated it had not been an easy decision. He said: “The primary purpose of Moorbank has
been for the University to conduct plant research, and in recent years we have seen the level of this research reduce considerably. “The running Presently the costs and investneeded to gardens costs ment maintain and de£35,000 a year velop the gardens is substantial and to maintain likely to increase over the next few years.” Homans then added that this did not mean the closure of the garden, as it was now in the hands of the Freemen to decide on the future of Moorbank. He said they would work together with campaigners and the Freemen to try to secure the garden’s future. The biological research facility, which
includes an indoor tropical forest and desert house, is located on Claremont Road. It is open to the public a few days a year but has been used over the last few years for undergraduate study within the School of Biology. Dr Gordon Beakes, a lecturer in the Plant Biology within the School, said: “The sad fact is that in terms of undergraduate teaching it has only played a relatively minor role in recent years. One is always sad to lose a facility such as this.“ A suggestion which was rejected by the Freemen of Newcastle was for the Friends of Moorbank to run the gardens. The Friends have taken care of the garden for the last 10 years. As the garden costs £35,000 a year to main-
tain, this would result in costs for access and parking. However, if run independently, campaigners predict that it cost up to “The Freemen would £70,000. so far have Growing Moorbank (set up by shown no Friends of intention to of- the Moorbank) and fer a new lease SaveNCLBotanic are two camfor buildings fighting to and ground to paigns keep the facility anyone.” open by securing grants and sponsorship. Public meetings to gain support for the campaigns and get a funding plan set for the facility have been held. Dr Mark O’Neill, who has been us-
ing the garden to breed new species of moths, is supporting the campaigners. He stated: “This place is magical, it is a really important North East resource. The £70,000 it would cost to run is nothing compared to the expensive plants here.” Moorbank Group further argued: “The garden has extensive planted grounds, along with exotic collections under glass. All these are in danger of being lost, unless the people of Newcastle save them.” The group fears that the University’s withdrawal might lead to the garden’s flattening. Despite persistent efforts by the Friends of Moorbank, the Freemen so far have shown no intention to offer a new lease for buildings and ground to anyone. Continued on page 4