Life on land
Policy to identify, monitor and protect IUCN and other conservation species
As part of our commitment to our living estate, biodiversity and the natural environment outlined in our Sustainability Policy, we have made a commitment to conserving and enhancing wildlife habitat on University-owned land. Supporting this, our Gardens Management Plan describes activity to be undertaken on our estates that identifies, monitors and protects IUCN and other conservation species.
The Western European Hedgehog has been identified as a IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2023. We have been undertaking work for a number of years to ensure we promote the safety and wellbeing of hedgehogs on our campus. We have gained recognition as a hedgehog-friendly campus for actions such as habitat restoration, review of pest controls and training for all gardens and grounds staff in hedgehog first aid.
Local biodiversity in planning and development
The development of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus involves redevelopment of an under used brownfield site, bringing with it the opportunity to significantly enhance biodiversity and create a healthy urban ecology.
The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus Sustainability Brief sets out how the project will maximise opportunities for habitat creation as an exemplar of restorative approach with a net positive contribution to ecology and biodiversity. The sustainability brief for this project describes how it will create layers of biodiversity throughout the development to establish a local urban ecosystem including extensive green roofs, urban arboretum and planting mature trees of the future, bird and bat boxes integrated within the development, habitats for insects, productive planting such as fruit and nut trees, and urban hedgerows to support bird species.
The new campus borders the River Avon and plans to do this by creating an ecologically rich landscape, focusing on the waterway boundaries, and working with Bristol City Council to do so In accordance with the Bristol Biodiversity Action Plan, the development will include an increase of six local plant species and the creation and enhancement of sheltered areas along the water edges for otters and water voles.
Policy to reduce alien species impact on campus
As part of our commitment to our living estate, biodiversity and the natural environment outlined in our Sustainability Policy, we have made a commitment to conserving and enhancing wildlife habitat on University-owned land. Supporting this, our Gardens Management Plan and Sustainability Strategy outline how we plan to increase biodiversity in support of local flora and fauna whilst ensuring our borders are kept free of alien species such as Japanese knotweed using either cultural or chemical methods.
Water quality standards and guidelines for water discharges
We have a number of policies and processes in place to ensure we meet appropriate standards for water discharges that protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health and welfare. This includes a code of practice for managing hazardous chemical waste and Legionella bacteria guidance. Additionally, our Carbon and Water Strategy outlines our obligations under the Water Act 2003 and Water Regulations created under the Water Industry Act 1991, to ensure the safety of the water supply and include protections against contamination, waste and misuse.
We follow UK government guidelines on water discharge standards and our wastewater is treated by Wessex Water, who process this in their water recycling centres. The treatment process protects ecosystems, wildlife, and human health and welfare, ensuring that our cleaned wastewater is safe to release into local rivers.
Our Emissions, Discharges and EMS Strategy provides a systematic, auditable framework to ensure compliance with legislation, including controls to prevent pollution; working to reduce emissions and discharges to air, land and water.
We have achieved certification to the world’s most recognised environmental management system (EMS) standard: ISO 14001, an international standard that provides a framework for us to understand, manage and improve our environmental impacts and performance. It helps us put environmental management at the heart of everything we do, enabling us to achieve success in our sustainability goals.