A GUIDE to inspire higher education institutes to take action on biodiversity has been launched at the University of Worcester.
Launched at a conference at the university, the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) has created The Biodiversity on Campus Guide to encourage and assist institutions in their work on tackling biodiversity.
The practical guide contains information for grounds and maintenance staff, through to environmental and senior estates managers, as well as any student and member of staff at universities or colleges involved in biodiversity initiatives.
With more than 50 students, academic staff, grounds staff and sustainability professionals from 23 higher education institutes across the country attending the conference launch, the University of Worcester’s Dr Duncan Westbury, senior lecturer in ecology and environmental management, informed delegates from the EAUC on the university’s approaches to creating and managing wildflower areas.
The university has also been working with Professor Tim Shreeve, director at the Centre for Ecology Environment and Conservation from Oxford Brookes University, to test a new tool for its suitability to map student houses as part of the Worcester Students’ Union-led project, Energize Worcester, to help reduce energy bills.
Katy Boom, director of sustainability at the university, said: “At the launch conference, staff and students led campus tours to showcase our key achievements in biodiversity so far.
“Plans and development in biodiversity for the future are also already in place with schemes including the installation of bee hotels and bird boxes as well as creating wildlife strips. Students have also been mapping all the green areas on site in order to enable them to set realistic and sustainable biodiversity targets for the future.”
