Plantlife noted that in the UK: “We’ve lost approximately 97% of flower-rich meadows since the 1930s and with them gone are vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies.” 

At the University, we can manage our land in a way that helps to conserve insect populations and demonstrates best practices. As such, the Gardens Team will be leaving areas of long grass around campus to help support invertebrate populations. 

Leaving long grass during May and June allows other plants in amongst the grasses to flower. These plants then set seed, which provide food for other insects or birds. Most of these grassy areas will be mown and the cuttings removed in July. 

The University is a founding signatory member of Nature Positive Universities – making a commitment to stop biodiversity loss by 2030 and begin the process of biodiversity gain thereafter. Our management of the campus in this way will hopefully increase the insect populations and support other wildlife such as birds and bats. 

Find out more about managed mown areas on campus.  

Students can get involved in protecting wildlife on campus by joining the Loughborough Students’ Union (LSU) Landscape and Gardening Society (LAGS) or Loughborough Greens Society. The LSU also offers conservation volunteering opportunities through Action, where students can take part in projects to take care of our woods and natural areas on campus.