Georgina Mace Garden

Welcome to UCL’s Georgina Mace Garden.

Planned and planted by UCL students, this garden offers a space to pause, whether alone or with others, surrounded by the richness of living systems. It is a place where plants, pollinators, and people come together, reflecting the intricate relationships that shape ecosystems and sustain biodiversity. In the heart of Bloomsbury, this evolving garden invites curiosity, connection, and quiet reflection.

Renamed in honour of Professor Dame Georgina Mace (1953–2020), the garden celebrates a scientist whose work transformed how we understand and protect the natural world. Georgina was a pioneering leader in biodiversity research, working at the Zoological Society of London before becoming Director of the Centre for Population Biology at Imperial College. She joined UCL in 2012 as the founding Director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research (CBER).

Her work helped establish the scientific foundations for measuring biodiversity change and informed policies in the UK and globally. She championed the vital role of nature in supporting human health, economies, and wellbeing, and highlighted the links between environmental change, inequality, and global challenges.

Above all, Georgina was driven by a simple but powerful question: why is the world the way it is, and how can we change it for the better? This garden reflects that spirit. As a living, breathing space, it stands as a tribute to her vision of a world where biodiversity is restored and valued, and where we live on this planet with care for its future.

Building the Garden

The Georgina Mace Garden began as a student-led initiative developed through the Wild Bloomsbury campaign to bring nature and biodiversity into the heart of the university’s central London campus. Created with support from Sustainable UCL, estates teams, and volunteers, the project transformed an underused space into a tranquil, biodiverse garden that supports wellbeing, encourages engagement with nature, and demonstrates how urban green spaces can contribute to climate resilience. Through collaborative gardening sessions, students helped design, restore, and plant the site, creating a living environment that not only enhances the campus but also fosters community, learning, and long-term stewardship of sustainable urban landscapes.