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Sustainability at Lincoln A newsletter from the University of Lincoln Sustainability team.

Spring 2022

Welcome to our Sustainability at Lincoln newsletter, our regular round up of campus events, tips on how to be sustainable at university and what we're up to across the estate. If you'd like to follow us on social media, check out the links below:

Hedgehog Awareness Week - 1st – 7th May 2022

Hedgehog Awareness Week is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and takes place every year. It aims to highlight the problems hedgehogs face and how you can help them. As a Hedgehog Friendly Campus, we run a few events each year, including an exhibition at the University Library this May!

Want to find out more about Hedgehog Friendly Campus at the University of Lincoln? View our website below:

Biodiversity at Lincoln

~ Green Spaces

Brayford Pool & Eastern Approach

The Brayford Pool runs alongside the University of Lincoln's Brayford Campus, the Eastern Approach refers to the landscaped area that follows the pool round and edges the city campus.

Wildlife spotted in this area: greylag and Canada geese, ducks, mute swans, wood pigeons, pipistrelle bats, otters, cormorants and much more.

This area includes; trees, a grassy bank that has been extended with coir rolls (project work by the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust) and floating islands (installed more recently, read on further for more information).

The Kitchen Garden

Managed by the University's Sustainability team and staff and student volunteers, the Kitchen Garden can be found behind Witham House on the Brayford Campus.

Wildlife spotted in this area: hedgehogs, foxes, black birds, robins and even frogs!

This area includes; vegetable beds, rewilded long grassy sections, a log pile, hedgehog house, a leaf pile and insect house. We've also planted a bramble at the end of the garden, and started to create a border of herb plants, gooseberry and blackcurrant plants. We've also seeded wildflower seeds such as cornflowers, poppies and more.

Delph Pond & Medical School Wildflower Meadows

The Delph Pond can be found in the centre of the green opposite the Isaac Newton Building and Lincoln Medical School.

Wildlife spotted in this area: grey herons, kingfishers, moorhens, coots, goldfinches, starlings, grey wagtails, Canada geese (currently nesting), hedgehogs, foxes and mice.

This area includes; seeded wildflower meadows, 3 x apple trees related to the Isaac Newton tree, planters filled with pollinator friendly plants, a grassy lawn area and much more. The Delph Pond is also a vital flood defence that is managed by the Internal Drainage Board.

Keep an eye out for: newts crossing the path in front of the Nicola de la Haye Building - please do gently pick any of these up that are in danger of being stepped on and pop them back on the grassy bank of the Delph Pond.

Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is an area behind the Sports pitch on the Brayford Campus.

Wildlife spotted in this area: hedgehogs, foxes, greater spotted woodpecker, squirrels.

This area includes; trees, long, rewilded grassy areas, and a new hedgehog "hog-tel" and "bug high-rise" (courtesy of Make a Difference Week volunteers this year).

Urban Bee Garden

This pollinator friendly garden can be found on the 3rd floor balcony of the Alfred Tennyson Building.

Wildlife spotted in this area: bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, birds (inc. the occassional sparrowhawk).

This area includes; large planters that are full of pollinator friendly plants such as roses and buddleia, as well as lots of small potted plants.

Joseph Banks Laboratories Wildflower Meadows

The JBL Wildflower Meadow can be found behind Joseph Banks Laboratories.

Wildlife spotted in this area: grey wagtails, crows, blackbirds, robins, and hedgehogs.

This area consists of a managed wildflower meadow. Visitors may spot throughout the year some familiar beautiful flowers including orchids, cowslips and poppies.

Riseholme Park

Our countryside park estate at Riseholme supports a variety of wildlife including; green woodpeckers, greater spotted woodpeckers, roe and muntjac deer, foxes, badgers, shrews, field voles, kestrels, tawny owls, grey wagtails, grey partridge, woodcocks, grass snakes and much more. As well as being home to our Riseholme Park Farm where our Riseholme Sheep Flock and Lincoln Red Herd reside.

There is a public bridleway and public permissive footpath that staff and students are welcome to use. Wildlife tours in the centre of the campus can be organised by emailing environment@lincoln.ac.uk.

Please be aware that dogs are required to be on leads at all times on Riseholme Park, for the safety of our livestock and our wildlife (which includes ground nesting birds).

The Lincolnshire Rivers Trust: Greening up the Brayford Pool

Over two sunny days in March we embarked on our next phase of ‘greening up’ the Brayford Pool. With generous funding from Environment Agency, Anglian Water’s Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and the City of Lincoln Council we set about adding a further 80m of floating islands along the concrete walls of the UK’s oldest inland harbour.

Biomatrix Water were employed to design and build the floating ecosystems and, with the help of some enthusiastic volunteers, we were able to plant them up with hundreds of aquatic plants before launching them into the pool where the Biomatrix team secured them to the harbour walls.

This project not only provides more important habitat for wildlife but, once the plants are established, will also enhances the aesthetics of the area adding colour and much-needed greenery.

We are already working on plans for the third phase of the project so watch this space…

Gail Talton

Witham Project Manager

Lincolnshire Rivers Trust

Make a Difference Week

During Lincoln SU's Make a Difference Week we worked with some brilliant student volunteers.

Pictures by Alex Foxley-Johnson

We went on Wildlife Tracking Walks, spoke about how to identify urban wildlife, spotting roe deer, song thrushes, ducks and even a kingfisher.

On Monday, we ran a Hedgehog and Mammal Surveying Workshop, students have been running their own surveys across the Brayford Campus, West Common and Greetwell Hollow. Our results will be posted during Hedgehog Week!

Dr Bike Sessions were run on the Brayford Campus, where an experienced bike mechanic serviced 35 bikes from our university community.

As well as a River Clean and city litter pick, students also attended a CLEAN up for Hedgehogs using the C.L.E.A.N Hub on campus.

We dug out a border in the Kitchen Garden, planted leeks, beetroot, lettuce, squash and broad beans.

We built what can only be described as a hedgehog "Hog-tel" in the Secret Garden, as well as sowing some wildflower seeds.

We look forward to seeing the round up about all of the activities from the week in the near future!

Check out our gallery below from Make a Difference Week.

Staff & Student Travel Survey Key Results

Thank you to all staff who completed the travel survey in 2021.

The results are reported to the Higher Education Statistics Agency and Lincolnshire County Council, annually. The data is also used to inform sustainable travel infrastructure and the University Car Parking Policy. Carbon emissions associated with staff and student travel are also included in the University’s annual carbon footprint.

Key results:

  • 61% of staff drive to campus, reduced from 65% in 2019.
  • The annual Scope 3 commuting carbon emissions for University staff is roughly 1,678 tonnes of CO2e.
  • 74% of students walk to campus, increased from 66% in 2019.
  • The majority of students studying at the University live within 1 mile of the campus.

How you can reduce your commuting carbon emission:

Environmental Policy Updated

As a rapidly-growing University with over 14,000 students and 1,500 staff, the University of Lincoln acknowledges that its activities will have an environmental impact on both a local and global scale. It is also recognised that environmental responsibility plays a key part in achieving our strategic aims and objectives.

The Environmental policy has been developed to outline the University’s commitment to the environment.

Access the updated policy:

Move Out May!

If you’re moving out and wondering what to do with your un-needed household items, clothing or food, then we’ve got you covered!

General Household goods, including pots, pans, plates, cutlery and electrical items – British Heart Foundation collection bins will be located within the suniversity own student accommodation areas or you can drop the non-electrical items off at your nearest charity shop.

Clothing, accessories and shoes – these can be placed in the British Heart Foundation collection bins too! Or again, please take them to your nearest charity shop.

Unopened food, toiletries and utility items (e.g. cleaning products) – these can be donated to the Student Union food bank either at the Hirebike reception at the Engine Shed, or drop off at your accommodation reception.

Stationery, books and text books – the main University library will be having a collection point in the Study Area for you to drop off any unwanted items, these will then be available for incoming students in September. Keep your eyes peeled on the environment and library socials to see when this scheme is going to be launched.

Duvets and pillows – these things can’t currently be recycled, please either take home with you or place in the general waste bins. Or you could contact your hometown animal welfare centres to see if they could use them.

Keep up-to-date with all these schemes by following us on Instagram:

Environment: www.instagram.com/uolestates/

Accommodation Team: www.instagram.com/unilincolnaccommodation/

Student Union: www.instagram.com/unilincolnsu/

Library Team: www.instagram.com/uollibrary/

Sustainability Events

Please email environment@lincoln.ac.uk to book your place on any of the below events. The exhibition is open to all.

Hogfriendly Exhibition

~ April - May 2022 ~

Visit our Hedgehog Friendly Campus Lincoln exhibition in the University Library until the end of May. Read all about our Hogfriendly campaign at the University of Lincoln, check out hedgehog prints from mammal surveys run on campus and view passages on our favourite prickly pals in vintage books!

Twilight Wildlife Walk

~ Tuesday 10th May 2022 ~ 18:00 - 20:00

During Mental Health Awareness Week join us for an evening wildlife wander around the city. Possible spottings; deer, rabbits, herons, bats, otters, and kingfishers. You'll learn about how to spot wildlife and what's in our local area. Please wear appropriate footwear for this event, and be aware that we will be walking for at least 1.5 hours. This particular route will likely be "off road" as such.

You must book onto this event in advance. Please email environment@lincoln.ac.uk to confirm your place.

Kitchen Garden Sessions

~ Bi-weekly lunchtime sessions - often Wednesdays ~

Join us at the Kitchen Garden and get involved in gardening on campus! We meet bi-weekly. Volunteers are able to take produce home (once its grown) and the rest is donated. To get involved email environment@lincoln.ac.uk

C.L.E.A.N Up For Hedgehogs

~ 18th May, 20th July ~

Want to help us look after our prickly campus residents? Join us for a hogfriendly litter pick! This is a great way to get involved in our Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign at the University of Lincoln. 🐾🦔

All you'll need are sensible shoes and we'd suggest wearing a decent coat. Dress warm as the wind can be a bit chilly! All other litter picking gear provided.

Wildflower Identification Sessions

~ This event runs monthly ~

Our wildflower identification sessions run monthly, generally on the first Friday in the month at 11am. Anyone is welcome to join - regardless of how much knowledge you may/may not have. This is an opportunity for staff and students to get to know your campuses in a slightly different and slower way, engaging in nature and the beauty of the small things around you.

A magical evening on the water

Finally, many thanks to the Lincoln Canoe Club for inviting us to run a Wildlife Safari Paddle this month!

The Lincoln Club clearly have a passion for looking after wildlife, and it was wonderful to be involved in sharing in their enthusiasm for wildlife on the water during this event. Seeing some of our favourite migratory birds swoop above us, as well as a glimpse of the elusive Kingfishers on our journey was just magical.

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Credits:

Images & words, Alex Foxley-Johnson & Tracey Turton