Biodiversity

The biodiversity of the campuses by is improved by increasing the proportion of mixed planting including wildflower meadows and hedgerows, and by planting trees

The University also has a ‘hedgehog friendly’ approach to grounds management. 

The rewilding of a stretch of the River Trent in 2020 has also contributed considerably to an increase in diversity of wildlife seen in the river and also within the University’s Nature Reserve which is located next to the river.

This plan is lead by:

• Ian Quayle, Assistant Director of Estates and Commercial Services

  UN SDGs

Targets and progress

Target

Measuring and ensuring Net Biodiversity Gain (NBG) with each new development.

Progress

Progress status: GREEN

The principle of creating a Net Biodiversity Gain has been established and will be realised within the new Student Village and Hub project which will be completed in 2027.

Within other areas of the Stoke campus, the University has already created Net Biodiversity Gain since the baseline of 2018-19 by planting trees, hedging and wildflowers, and also through a project to re-wild a stretch of river on campus.  

Operational priorities for 2023/24

Develop a biodiversity metric to bring quantitative as well as qualitative assessment of levels of biodiversity to all campuses