Biodiversity
Our estate expands well beyond our urban campus and spreads over 1000 acres, including two farms - one specialising in livestock, and the other in cereal crops and research - and four habitat types which are of local and national importance: scrub, woodland, species-rich grassland, and open water.
These habitats are home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including the locally-important:
- brown hare
- song thrush
- great crested newt
- slow worm.
Managing habitats
Our External Estates team is responsible for managing these invaluable habitats in line with national Habitat Action Plans, as laid out by Defra. We work to conserve biodiversity by:
- proactively managing woodland and grassland environments
- using chemicals only minimally
- recycling green waste
- using native species within new planting schemes, wherever possible.
Monitoring biodiversity
We monitor levels of biodiversity through site-specific surveys, before and after developments take place. We also conduct annual surveys of key indicator species, including sparrows, green woodpeckers, swifts, hedgehogs, amphibians, butterflies and ivy broomrape.
Students - Staff Allotment
Throughout the year, the Allotment and Community Garden runs a number of events you can join to plant, harvest, cook and eat the homegrown produce.
Did you know?
Our Botanic Garden showcases biodiversity from across the world, and is home to over 4,500 species.
Hedgehog Friendly Campus
Our campus was awarded Gold in the Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign. Read the latest updates about Hog Friendly campus and find out about how you can get involved.