Creating a wildlife-friendly habitat at Riverside

A new hedgerow, full of wildlife-friendly plants and trees, is being planted on university land by students and staff. The hedgerow will create additional wild space and ‘green corridors’ along the River Trent, at the edge of some of Nottingham’s large industrial areas. In December 2022 the university’s sports teams collaborated with the grounds team …

Becoming a ‘nature positive’ university

Nature is disappearing at an alarming rate around the world, from the Brazilian rainforests to the insects of the British Isles. But there are global plans to reverse this and the university has a part to play. The nature crisis Nature gives us food, medicines, resources, the air we breathe, not to mention the positive …

Growing a wildflower meadow at Lenton Hurst

Lenton Hurst is a historic house on University Park. It has a large lawn that is mown every 10 days during the growing season. The grounds team are turning this lawn into a wild area, planted with wildflower seeds and plants with the end goal of it becoming a permanent, stunning wildflower meadow. The new …

Building bug hotels

Nadia Frowd is Clinical Studies Officer at the Institute of Mental Health, based on Jubilee Campus. Over the past year she’s built several 5 star ‘bug hotels’ to provide homes for insects and wildlife. Find out more about what Nadia did and how you can build your own at home. I have always enjoyed nature, …

Bats make a home in the basement of Lenton Hurst

The diverse habitats of our university campuses means they are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including seven different species of bat. But one species in particular has literally moved in. In the summer, bats were found roosting in the cellar of the 19th century Lenton Hurst Building. They were discovered when …

Beyond No Mow May, Biodiversity at the University of Nottingham: Part 2

In a recent blog we explored how biodiversity on our campuses was being enhanced during #NoMowMay. As we passed through #LetItBloomJune and #KneeHighJuly the newly flowered areas have brightened up our campuses and provided food to pollinating insects. The grounds team tell us more. Jubilee Charnock Field wildflower trial In May, a trial began at …

No Mow May – Biodiversity at the University of Nottingham

Our University campuses encourage biodiversity all year round, but during May, Nottingham has been taking part in #NoMowMay. The loss of flower meadows in the UK over the past 90 years has led to a steep decline in bees and other pollinating insects. Gardens and green spaces have subsequently become an increasingly important habitat, especially …

What the heck is a hedgehog tunnel?

Hannah Constantin, from the faculty of Engineering and the Hedgehog Friendly Campus group, gives tips and inspiration for engaging with the hedgehogs in your garden. If you’ve clicked on this article, you’ve taken your first step towards tracking hedgehogs in your own garden!  Read on to learn all about it…   What’s the problem? Hedgehog …

Gardens in the Sky

Did you know that we have more than 10 green roofs across a number of our building on both University Park and Jubilee Campus. Green roofs aren’t anything new and we have been covering roofs with vegetation for centuries, whilst those early installation provided protection from the elements and good insulation they were neither waterproof …

A quick (pond) dip in the Djanogly pond

Guest blog by Dr. Tom Hartman, School of Life Sciences, on a brief survey of one of the ponds on University Park. The pond by the Djanogly arts centre has been in existence for many decades until the tram line was installed in 2014 when it was completely destroyed. A smaller pond was then excavated …