In November 2025, Sakura Cherry trees from Japan were planted on our Egham campus as part of a nationwide project to celebrate Japan’s relationship with the UK.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Julie Sanders was joined by present and recently Graduated members of the RHSU Japanese Society for a tree planting ceremony on the lawn between Gowar and Wedderburn Halls. It is hoped that these Sakura trees will thrive and in time will produce their famous cherry blossom for our community to enjoy.
To date, over 8000 Japanese cherry trees have been gifted to over 1000 sites across the UK, helping people to learn more about Japan, its culture and traditions. Many of these trees will be made up of three different varieties, ‘Beni-yutaka’, ‘Tai Haku’, and ‘Somei-Yoshino’, which have been chosen for their variation in colour, timing, and historical significance.
Many thanks to our Estates team for helping to install these trees and to RHSU Japanese Society for applying to be part of the programme.
