Sustainability

Biodiversity

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The diverse habitats found on our campuses means they are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. From beetles to bats, hedgehogs to hoverflies.

Since the 1930s, nearly 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures have been lost. This has a cascade effect on our wildlife, with fewer pollinators and fewer insect-eating birds. 

Across our campuses we are rewilding spaces and leaving grass to grow longer to promote biodiversity and create habitats and food sources for local wildlife.

Three new wildflower areas have been created in the last two years, on both University Park and on Sutton Bonington, with more to follow. This includes the creation of a wildflower meadow on the current lawn at Lenton Hurst House, and taking part in No Mow May each year.

Read about some of our biodiversity projects

We have a Biodiversity Management Plan for University Park that sets out a 10 year programme for enhancing the biodiversity of the campus.  

We've seen significant increases in flora and fauna diversity on University Park, but the benefits are especially evident on Jubilee Campus - a former industrialised area that has been transformed into a green oasis.

Reduced mowing

We have reduced mowing by 25% over the last 10 years. New battery powered mowers are used on Highfields, Riverside & University Park sports grounds This has several advantages:

  • Grass is left to grow longer and flower, which increases wildlife habits and sources of food
  • Fuel is saved and CO2 emissions are reduced
  • Vibrations from machine use is less, benefiting staff health

University honey

The university has beehives at King’s Meadow Campus in Lenton and at Bunny Park – arable farmland south of Nottingham, used for a variety of university research. 

The beehives are managed on the university’s behalf by professional bee farmer, Parks Apiaries. Each year in Autumn/Winter university honey goes on sale to staff and students. It can be purchased from:

  • Spar shop, The Exchange, Jubilee Campus
  • Spar shop, Portland Building, University Park
  • Hipps cafe, Medical School
  • Costcutter shop, Sutton Bonington
  • Portland Clothing Co, Portland Building, University Park
  • Trent cafe, Trent Building, University Park
  • Coates Café, Coates building, University Park

There are currently 10 to 15 different species of tress across our campuses

 

View our biodiversity posters

Watch Dale from the Grounds Team explain how and why we are encouraging biodiversity

Bee orchid

 

 

By reducing the amount we mow, we are saving 96 litres in fuel and 225kg COa year
 

 

We have 70 bee hives, each housing tens of thousands of honeybees, helping to increase pollination of wildflowers

 
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Get involved

Join hands-on conservation sessions with the university grounds team and the Student Conservation Society on Wednesday afternoons. These sessions encourage everyone to take some time outside whilst helping to enhance our campus environments.

Meeting on Wednesday afternoons, there are a range of activities to try, even if you can only spare an hour. 

Find out more

Sustainability Team

Estate Office, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD

Email: sustainability@nottingham.ac.uk