About

Oxford Facility

Image of a greenhouse with blue sky and clouds above

The Oxford Facility provides specialized plant growth facilities, field space, services, and expertise to support the plant science research and teaching needs of the UC Berkeley campus. It is managed by the Rausser College of Natural Resources and is open to all UC Berkeley-affiliated principal investigators, staff, and students for research and teaching use. The Facility also supports non-UCB users on a limited basis. It is not open to the general public.

The experienced staff at the Oxford Facility provides horticultural consultation, facilities maintenance, and plant care. We are onsite 365 days/year to water and monitor plants in order to ensure experimental continuity. With a combined area of 37,500 square feet, our three greenhouses can accommodate a wide range of projects. The Facility also includes two field locations, Oxford Tract and Gill Tract. Additional resources include mist propagation beds and rooms, work space, supplemental lighting, and temperature and lighting controls.

Navigate the menu to learn more about the facilities, services, and supplies that are available to you and your project.

History and Oversight

Old black and white photo Oxford Tract from 1940

Oxford Tract is located at the northwest side of the Berkeley campus, and was founded in 1929 when UC Berkeley purchased the entire block from residents and established the “University of California Experimental Garden” 1. Gill Tract was purchased by the University of California from the Gill Family in 1928, and UC Berkeley founded the Center for Biological Control in 1945. 

The Oxford Facility is currently administered by Peggy Lemaux, the Executive Chair of the Oxford Facilities Oversight Committee, with the guidance of the Executive Associate Dean of Research and Extension Dennis Baldocchi, and advised by the five-member Oxford Facilities Oversight Committee. The plant growth facilities at the Oxford Facility are unique to the Berkeley campus and Bay Area because of their size, close proximity to campus, and range of plant growth conditions available. 

1. Thompson, Daniella. 2009 BAHA When Berkeley’s Home Street was a Street of Homes. http://berkeleyheritage.com/eastbay_then-now/home_st.html