Campus environment
We seek to positively improve sustainability in the learning environment across our campuses, through responsible estates management, partnership working and public engagement. We also take opportunities to use our university sites to support learning for sustainability and use the campus as a living laboratory in the delivery of courses and research.
Sustainability features
Sustainability features can be found on all our campuses:
City Campus, Gloucester
- Targeting BREEAM Excellent rating for the building refurbishment
- Salix PSDS3 funding to change heating system to fully electric
- Whole life carbon approach assessment for the building refurbishment and operations
- City centre location with public transport connections and parking limitation supports sustainable travel
- Landmark ESG £29 million financing
Park Campus, Cheltenham
- Nearly 1,000 trees, including rare and endangered species
- Nest boxes, bee houses and beehives
- Wild seed planting and heritage fruit trees
- Solar photovoltaic panels on Challinor halls of residence
- Staff-student-community growing space
- Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature trail
- Two electric car charging points
Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester
- New zero emissions BREEAM “Excellent” rated Business School building with 4 air source heat pumps for all heat
- Solar photovoltaic panel array on specifically designed roof
- Four electric car charging points and additional bike storage
- Biodiversity initiative to encourage wildflowers and wildlife
Francis Close Hall and Hardwick Campuses, Cheltenham
- Conservation of heritage buildings and chapel
- Community Edible Garden to share permaculture and food awareness
- Home to an established colony of swifts
- Teaching Garden used by the Landscape Architecture course
- Awarded bronze-level Hedgehog Friendly Campus status by the Hedgehog Preservation Society.
- Two electric car charging points
Pittville Campus, Cheltenham
- BREEAM excellent rated refurbishment of this former teaching site
- Energy efficient district heat network
- Book swap facility to encourage sharing and re-use
- Facilities for student wellbeing with outdoor games area and gym
Campus biodiversity
We are working to improve biodiversity across our campuses, including updating policy and exploring new tree planting, wildflower meadows and wildlife habitat opportunities.
Rewilding
Student-led tree planting
In 2022, third-year Geography student Will Weaving led a successful tree planting initiative that resulted in 105 native trees being planted by students and staff across Oxstalls and Park campuses.
No Mow May
Each year, our Estates team leave areas on our campuses to run wild. In 2021, a wild area on Hardwick campus produced a rare white Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptos pyramidalis var. albiflora)!
Other campus initiatives include:
- Our Biosciences team run citizen science ‘BioBlitz‘ activities with local people at Cheltenham Science Festival.
- Park campus is used by students as a Living Laboratory for field work including biodiversity monitoring and action plans.
- Public use of Park campus is encouraged with a walking guide published with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.