Biodiversity and ecology

UWE Bristol campuses cover an area of 150 hectares (1.5 KM²), with large areas of Glenside Campus and Bower Ashton designated as conservation areas.

In 2020 UWE Bristol declared a climate and ecological emergency and developed a landscape and biodiversity action plan to respond to the crisis. In 2024 we signed up to be a Nature Positive university, joining a growing bank of higher education institutions around the world.

Working with the natural environment to maximise biodiversity, our Grounds team use sustainable gardening techniques to create beautiful spaces for students and staff to use for leisure, for study and for practical experience.

Read on to learn about the many ways we are supporting biodiversity across campus and how you can get involved.

Wild flowers and meadowscaping on UWE campus

What are UWE Bristol doing to support biodiversity?

We are developing diverse ecosystems in numerous ways.

Meadowscaping areas of grass at Frenchay Campus and Glenside Campus - mown only two or three times a year to benefit wildlife and bring nature closer to people.
Increasing artificial habitats for bats, birds, butterflies and ladybirds by providing appropriate planting, roosting and nesting boxes, and feeding stations.
Improving biodiversity and edible planting at City Campus and at Glenside Campus, including a small orchard, native bulb planting, herb planting and wildlife habitats.
Reviving and replanting the old walled garden by the Farmhouse at Frenchay Campus, where students and staff can relax, socialise and study.
Continuing the evolution of the community garden, improving disabled access and introducing raised beds for wheelchair users.
Developing an on-site plant nursery, producing key pollinator plants, such as thyme and rosemary, and a native tree sapling nursery.
Processing an increasingly large percentage of our green waste on site into compost for reuse in the grounds.
Using 100% peat-free compost and growing mediums.
Using electric vehicles and tools: more than 90% of our grounds maintenance tools are now electric powered, including lawnmowers and buggies, resulting in less noise and air pollution.

The Frenchay Beeline

The award-winning Frenchay Beeline is a scheme to bring nature into the heart of the Frenchay Campus, introducing plants that are edible pollinators in more than 30 locations.

Our staff, students and visitors have access to free herbs, seasonal fruit and vegetables, while also helping to enhance biodiversity in the local area.

Planting schemes have been designed around ten key edible pollinators. This core planting is supplemented by seasonal edibles and high performing pollinator plants on a continuous basis throughout the year.

In the last few years, we've been working to extend the Beeline to all campuses.

Beeline video

Find out more about this sustainability project at Frenchay Campus.

What you can do - relax, socialise, walk, garden

Take a walk around Frenchay Campus, taking in a range of sustainability and biodiversity features using our Green Campus map or explore Glenside Campus with our Glenside Green Campus map. If your student or staff group would like a walk or talk specifically for you, please email sustainability@uwe.ac.uk.
Use our community garden to grow your own vegetables. Individual or group plots available — please email sustainability@uwe.ac.uk for details.

Student support and projects

We are keen for students to learn from our management of the grounds. We can support you by providing campus tours, information and interviews.

You can also get involved in our wildlife surveys and landscape management plans, write an article for us or make a video. Get in touch with sustainability@uwe.ac.uk to chat through possibilities.