go! Wild on campus
The Conservation Society and university staff built a 5 star bug hotel on Jubilee campus
Wildlife is disappearing at an alarming rate around the world. So much so that some are calling it the next mass extinction event. But we can all do something to reverse this.
There are many opportunities for staff and students to join in with hands-on conservation across our UK campuses. These sessions encourage everyone to take some time outside whilst helping to enhance our campus environments for nature and for people.
Events
Hedgehog Awareness Week
Thursday 9 May, 6pm. Help hedgehogs with the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group’s footprint tunnel workshop. Learn how to track hedgehog activity on campus, at home, or in your local community. Meet at the Djalongly Terrace (top of the steps outside the Portland building), UP.
Wednesday afternoons with the Conservation Society
ConSoc and the Grounds Team arrange regular conservation sessions on Wednesday afternoons. There are a range of activities to try, even if you can only spare an hour. The events usually run 1.30pm-3.30pm.Specific dates and activites will be posted here when confirmed.
Join the Microsoft Teams channel for up-to-date information on events, subscribe to our go! newsletter or follow us on socials (see below). Plans may change at short notice due to weather and availability of staff.
If you have any questions, contact sustainability@nottingham.ac.uk.
- Wednesday 8 May – No Mow May surveying, Jubilee Campus, 1.30pm-3pm. Count the plant species found in certain areas to understand what the benefits are of leaving spaces to grow wild.
- Wednesday 15 May – Hedgehog tunnel surveys, University Park, 12pm-1.30pm. Meet at entrance to Hallward Library. Help set up and monitor tunnels to understand hedgehog numbers on campus.
- Wednesday 22 May – Hedgehog Tunnel survey results, University Park. 12pm-1.30pm Meet at entrance to Hallward Library. Help set up and monitor tunnels to understand hedgehog numbers on campus.
- Wednesday 5 June – two sessions:
-
- No Mow May surveying, Jubilee Campus,1.30pm-3pm. Meet outside Jubilee Hotel & Conference Centre. Count the plant species found in certain areas to understand what the benefits are of leaving spaces to grow wild.
- Habitat creation and litter picking, University Park, 1.30pm-3pm. Meet at Millennium Garden
- Wednesday 12 June – Installing wildlife houses and wildlife cameras, University Park, 1.30pm-3pm. Meet at entrance to Hallward Library.
- Wednesday 19 June – Installing wildlife houses and wildlife cameras, Jubilee Campus, 1.30pm-3pm. Meet outside Jubilee Hotel & Conference Centre.
- Wednesday 26 June – Installing wildlife houses and wildlife cameras, Sutton Bonington,1.30pm-3pm. Meeting point TBC.
Important information
- Grounds can provide PPE essential to the task, including gloves, eye protection and hi-vis vests.
- Volunteers should provide their own footwear and will not be permitted to work with inadequate footwear on tasks where risk of foot injury is possible.
- First Aid kit will be provided on site.
If you plan on attending any events, please read this Risk Assessment.
What else you can do
- Discover and track biodiversity on campus (and at home) with iNaturalist.
- Identify birds from their song with the brilliant app Merlin.
- Get involved with the Hedgehog Friendly Campus group. Students can volunteer for various roles by completing this form.
- Take action to help wildlife at home too. The Wildlife Trust has a huge list of simple things you can do.
- Feed the birds and take part in National Nest Box Week.
- Let the grass grow! Reduce the frequency of your mowing and take part in No Mow May.
- There are lots more ideas in this blog from citizen science to signing petitions.