With funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this Nottingham-based pilot focuses on restoring nature into spaces where staff and students work and learn. It is a partnership between the University of Nottingham, Nottingham College and Bluecoat Aspley Academy.
Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are crucial for the survival of all life on earth. But nature is under threat, not least in the UK where we are one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. And consequently, we are also increasingly disconnected from nature.
Nature-based events for University Mental Health Week 9-13 March
Jubilee Campus Nature Walk, Wenesday 11 March, 1pm-2pm
Join us for a walk on Jubilee Campus to explore the nature we can find on our doorstep. Our aim is to create a supportive, restorative experience for students.
Meeting point in the Foyer, Exchange Building, Jubilee Campus
Build a bug hotel with Faculty of Enginnering, Thursday 12 March, 11am-3pm
Have a go at building an insect house. There is also the option to go foraging for natural materials to fill it with. These boxes will provide additional habitats on our campuses for insects – a vital part of the ecosystem and food chain.
Equipment will be provided and no technical experience is needed.
Find us in the Engineering and Science Learning Centre (ESLC) atrium.
Rutland Hall 'Wild Walkway' creation - Wednesday 18 March
Join us as we create a 'wild walkway' at Rutland Hall on University Park. We'll be planting up the covered walkway that runs between the hall's buildings with wildlife-friendly, pollinator-rich climbing plants. Not only will this provide food for nature it might also provide some foraged food for students.
Plus we'll be installing Sustainable Urban Drainage planters that will capture rainwater before slowly releasing it into through a tiered planting system. This will aid flooding and help our spaces adapt to a changing climate.
Come along and learn about the benefits of managing green spaces organically and sustainably.
Wednesday 18 March, 1.20pm - 3pm.
The location can be found on what3words.com by searching the words ///final.monkey.data.
Please register here so we have an idea of numbers.
University wide bioblitzes - April and May 2026
Help us survey the wildlife on University Park. Spend an afternoon - or whatever time you have - exploring our beautiful campus and recording the nature that you see. This will help us to understand and monitor the wildlife that calls our university home so that we may make better decisions about how to enhance and protect it.
University Park Bioblitz - Wednesday 29 April 12.30-3pm
Full training will be given but you will need a phone and the app iNaturalistat. You may also like to download the Merlin bird app.
- Training: 12.30pm - 1pm
- Bioblitzing around campus: 1pm - 3.30pm
More details for Jubilee and Sutton Bonington campuses coming soon.
Sign up to the Wilding Campuses mailing list to get opportunities and updates straight to your inbox.
Important information
- Grounds can provide PPE essential to the task as needed, including gloves, eye protection and hi-vis vests.
- Volunteers should provide their own footwear and will not be permitted to work with inadequate footwear on tasks where risk of foot injury is possible.
- First Aid kit will be provided on site.
If you plan on attending any events, please read this Risk Assessment.
Help us spread the word
Whilst these events are open to all, we are keen to engage with staff and students may not already have much connection with nature. This includes those from working class backgrounds, people of colour, students studying non-environmental courses, those with caring responsibilities and those with disabilities. Get in touch if you can help reach these groups.
Contact the Sustainability Team
Biodiversity at UoN
The university has some of the greenest campuses in the UK. They support a diverse range of habitats and species and are enjoyed by our staff, students, and the local community. The Wilding Campus project will tie in with work already underway to enhance and protect our beautiful green spaces for the benefit of all. A new biodiversity steering group, made up of staff and students, from across schools and operations, is driving this agenda.
Recent surveys have helped establish campus biodiversity baselines so we can set effective improvement targets. For example, as part of the Wild Campuses project, the university has committed to rewilding 15% of our land.
Wilding Campuses is a regional partnership project to restore local natural heritage, led by SOS-UK and made possible with the Heritage Fund and thanks to National Lottery players.