Biodiversity Policy

What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is short for ‘biological diversity', the variety of life on Earth. In includes all living organisms and the ecosystems in which they occur. Abundance and diversity of ecosystems, species, genes and the interactions between them are a key part of biodiversity. Together they ensure the continuance of life by producing oxygen, fresh water and other resources that are essential for our long-term survival.

Why conserve biodiversity?
From habitat destruction and pollution to our excessive use of natural resources, humans are taking their toll on the natural systems which support life on our planet. According to the ‘Millennium Ecosystem Assessment', global species extinction rates are now up to 1000 times higher than the historical rate shown by the fossil record. This is expected to increase 10 fold over the next 50 years.

"Biodiversity describes our natural wealth. It forms the natural capital which makes up the living landscapes around us, sustains living systems and enhances our quality of life. It is an important component of the view from our window, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the materials and medicines we use, and the functioning of the natural systems and processes in which our lives depend".¹

Both HEFCE and The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) support enhancing and protecting biodiversity. HEFCE has made a commitment to promote more sustainable estates management in its recent strategy ‘Sustainable Development in Higher Education', June 2008.

Biodiversity is a very important element of this, particularly in areas where there are new opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement.²

The LSC identifies biodiversity as part of Higher Education Institutes' key principles and recommends that they should implement a locally appropriate biodiversity programme that best manages the site for conservation.

The University of Hull is committed to maintain and improve the biodiversity of its campuses at Hull and Scarborough; and on its residential sites at Cottingham.

The University's 52.7 hectares main campus sited north of Cottingham Road, Hull comprises enclosed planted courtyards and lawns, which have previously won the ‘Yorkshire in Bloom' competition, green margins and an extensive area of sports fields to the north and north-west around a densely built core.

Scarborough campus has an open southerly aspect across sports fields with a green margin to the west and east.

Residences at the Lawns, Needler Hall and Thwaite Hall all contain a mixture of lawned landscape and tree lined margins with a notable pond and botanic gardens at Thwaite Hall.

The University will:

• comply with all relevant EU and UK environmental legislation
• identify the potential direct and indirect impacts of our activities on biodiversity and take measures to minimise the negative impacts and promote positive actions
• work to integrate biodiversity considerations into our activities through the Hull Campus Biodiversity Action Plan
  produce an annual grounds and gardens plan featuring efforts to develop bio-diversity
• engage with local communities, government and non-government organisations and suppliers/disposers of goods in order to enhance our opportunities to support biodiversity
• engage with Friends of Thwaite Gardens to develop the distinctive environment of the Botanic Gardens site
• communicate this policy to all employees, students and visitors
• report annually on the University's progress towards achieving targets set upon its biodiversity performance

The Hull Biodiversity Action Plan identified eight broad habitats which were of wildlife significance within Hull. Of these eight categories six are represented on the University's Hull campus. The Hull BAP also designated 25 species that were considered to be of conservation significance within Hull, either in their own right or as general indicators of the health of the identified habitats.

The Hull Campus Biodiversity Plan³, considers biodiversity with respect to: The Built Environment; Formal Plantings; Grassland; Shrubberies and Hedges; Specimen Trees; and Derelict Land.

The university has:

• established ‘no-mow' conservation strips of 2000m² on the western campus playing fields and 400m² on the boundary with the Marist sports club
• used native species when closing gaps in hedges
• surveyed all trees on campus and produced a database - these trees will be inspected twice yearly
• erected 20 bird boxes on the main campus and botanic gardens at Thwaite Hall
• erected 10 bat roosting boxes
• previously derelict land has been planted with native wildflowers and grasses

1. Guidance for Public Authorities on Implementing the Biodiversity Duty – DEFRA

2. Biodiversity, The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC)

3. Hull Campus Biodiversity Action Plan

Last Updated: 30 March 2009
© University of Hull 2009