We are incredibly lucky to have such a green campus on the edge of beautiful parkland and still be well connected to our local infrastructure. Have a look around you as you walk across the site and look out for our environmental developments.
Looking after our environment
How much of your learning environment do you notice?
When you are in the carpark or waiting for your bus, look up to the roof edge of the Sports block, N block, M Block and G block; you will see numerous bird boxes for swifts, swallows, house martins and house sparrows. There are also bird boxes down at the Axehead. Bird song is one of those peaceful sounds that help us to feel relaxed and happy. Listen as you walk around campus and see if you can hear them. Particularly on the back lane and bottom of the field.
Our wild campus project, set out to establish habitats and wildlife corridors for rare and protected species. We are part of a ‘bridge’ between Cirencester Park and the countryside to the west. Between the RAU and ourselves, we committed to creating and delivering, more than 1400 sqm of new habitats and restoring more than 2300 sqm including at least 700m of wildlife corridors. Before starting this project, I didn’t know that nearby there are eight bat species: common, soprano and Nathusius’ pipistrelle, noctule, serotine, lesser horseshoe, brown long-eared and barbastelle – although I’m not sure I could tell you which was which!
We have created a dark corridor (removing bright lighting) to support bats travelling between the park behind us and the land on the opposite side to the west. We have also planted hundreds of shrubs, trees and flowers to encourage pollinators and provide bugs to feed bats but also birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
The nest boxes mentioned earlier and hibernacula (underground chambers that amphibians and reptiles can use for hibernation) are to support other rare and protected species that will also benefit from the habitat enhancements. Around the site are hedgehogs, badgers, voles, tawny and barn owls, house martins, swifts, house sparrows, goldfinches, long-tailed tits, dunnocks, chaffinches, common toads, common frogs, smooth newts, great crested newts, slow-worms and common lizards and many others.
We are encouraging these creatures to travel safely along the bunds that you will see at the bottom of the carpark and all along the back lane, including the corner ground adjoining the Estate carpark. The wildlife corridor continues down the field edge of the animal building and all along the dry-stone wall at the edge of the campus.
We have done a lot of work to protect the landmark trees across the campus and now have over 40 species. We have carried out extensive tree planting (1200 + trees over the last few years and, hopefully, more in the autumn), using native species and lots of wildflowers. The first of this native planting formed the Saxon style hedgerow opposite the gate at the bottom of the carpark (nearest the caravan park entrance). These will encourage insects, bees and invertebrates, helping to pollinate the flowers and providing food for the birds and bats. The most recently planted trees are protected by tubes and supported by canes; you will see these all along the bund and all around the field.
In the back-left hand corner of the field there is a ‘mini-urban forest’. The trees are now established and starting to fill the space. We have planted some new ones at the edge of this area to provide wildlife cover as well as colour. This area also has wild woodland flowers which are now covering the ground well. In the centre back section of the field, there is a relatively new pond. This serves the dual purpose of draining the excess water from that part of the field and also providing a habitat for frogs, newts and snakes. We have planted trees to frame the area and provide some protection.
We also have a pond in the Axehead area (at the bottom of the back lane opposite the Caravan Park). This is a great, green environment for our students and staff, enabling them to connect to nature, boost their well-being and encourage them to explore the countryside and parkland surrounding our site. There are woodland walks around natural planting; look out for the bug houses.
We have also introduced some bee hives at the back of the Axehead. Bees prop up the ecosystem; without bees (and thousands of other insect species that call the UK home), it wouldn’t be long before our ecosystem collapsed. Bees pollinate our wild trees and wild flowers, which then support other insects, and in turn support birds, bats, mammals and everything up the food chain with food and shelter. Our bees produce some lovely honey which staff and students can buy from the Coffee Cabin – this helps to support the activities of the Duke of Edinburgh group who look after the bees.
Moving closer to the buildings, we are developing more sensory areas; research shows that engaging with wildlife-rich environments benefits people’s wellbeing. We are replacing aged and dying hedging with scented shrubs such as rosemary and lavender, ensuring we maintain the areas where birds like to nest. Some of this is already in place but you will start to notice more as we make good the landscape following the completion of the construction projects.
We have been working to bring nature into the heart of our built environment through building design, planting schemes and landscaping. We were one of the first institutions to secure Building with Nature accreditation for our development design. This involves maximising the benefits to nature (e.g. habitat creation) and student and staff well-being.
When you have some time, take a walk around our campus and see what we are doing to enhance local wildlife and biodiversity.
