Over two years (May 2024 – May 2026), the collaborative Wilding Campuses project aims to address this by increasing the abundance and diversity of threatened species on and around our campuses. Crucially, it will also empower students, staff and young people across Nottingham to reconnect with nature and tackle the ecological crisis through practical skills sessions, and engagement and wellbeing activities.
Read the news: SOS-UK receives grant for exciting Wilding Campuses pilot
Join the Wilding Campuses Youth Network
We are looking for several students to take an active role in the project. In this voluntary role, you will have the opportunity to represent UoN and input ideas in decision-making, events and plans for Wilding Campuses.
The role would involve advising the partnership in decision-making, events and engagement or biodiversity plans for the project. You would be invited to join partnership meetings and in person events, have the chance to represent and spread the word about the project, provide input and suggestions, and play a key role in reaching other young people, as well as providing your own ideas.
This voluntary role would typically require a few hours per month, but would be flexible around other commitments such as studies, lessons and term time commitments.
Find out more and apply
Take part in activities
Everyone is welcome to attend any event and all equipment is provided. See below for all the events that are currently planned. New opportunities are frequently added.
Sign up to the Wilding Campuses mailing list to get opportunities and updates straight to your inbox
Wednesday 12 February - Wilding Campuses celebration event
Join us for a day of rewilding activities to showcase our Wilding Campuses project and the nature on our doorstep.
You are welcome to attend all or part of the day, however, places for the morning event are limited and registration for this element is essential.
10am-12pm 'Wilding' film showing, Q&A and refreshments
To start the day we will give a short outline of the Wilding Campuses Project and some successes to date. This is also your chance to ask any questions of the staff leads. This will promptly be followed by a showing of the film Wilding. Tea, coffee, juice and cake will be provided!
Wilding tells the story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate. The young couple battles entrenched tradition, and dares to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe.
"An inspiring story true story that shows how we can revive nature and restore hope."
Room C14 Monica Partridge Building
1pm-3pm practical rewilding activities on University Park
In the afternoon, try your hand at some practical conservation activities. Have a go at hedge-laying and planting fruit trees in the orchard. The aim is to create better, bigger and more joined up habitats for our threatened local wildlife.
Meet at the Millenium Garden
Students from our partners Nottingham College, and Bluecoat Aspley Academy will also be there. Alongside the habitat improvements, the aim of the day is offer an opportunity to learn and develop new skills whilst fostering a sense of community and collaboration between our local places.
Register here
Important information
- Grounds can provide PPE essential to the task as needed, 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.
Help us spread the word
Whilst these events are open to all, we are keen to engage with staff and students may not already have much connection with nature. This includes those from working class backgrounds, people of colour, students studying non-environmental courses, those with caring responsibilities and those with disabilities. Get in touch if you can help reach these groups.
Contact the Sustainability Team
Biodiversity at UoN
The university has some of the greenest campuses in the UK. They support a diverse range of habitats and species and are enjoyed by our staff, students, and the local community. The Wilding Campus project will tie in with work already underway to enhance and protect our beautiful green spaces for the benefit of all. A new biodiversity steering group, made up of staff and students, from across schools and operations, is driving this agenda.
Recent surveys have helped establish campus biodiversity baselines so we can set effective improvement targets. For example, as part of the Wild Campuses project, the university has committed to rewilding 15% of our land.
Wilding Campuses is a regional partnership project to restore local natural heritage, led by SOS-UK and made possible with the Heritage Fund and thanks to National Lottery players. 