BiodiversityStrategy (2016 2021) · University Sustainability Strategy (2016‐2020) A whole of institution approach to sustainability Respecting the environment Building knowledge

Biodiversity Strategy (2016‐2021)

(Fresher’s Week 2016; Viewfield Lane Community Garden)

(July 2016; Rear of Fraser Building)

Version Control

Version 1.1

Author Stewart Miller / Stewart White

Checked by Ann Allen

Approved by David Duncan

Issued Dec’18 (due for review Dec’19)

Introduction

The University of Glasgow has inherited, acquired and developed a rich heritage of plant and animal life at the various semi‐natural and landscaped sites it occupies. It is the University’s on going responsibility to protect and enhance this heritage, for both its intrinsic value and for the wider benefits that healthy ecosystems can provide; breathable air, potable water and fertile soils. In addition, we recognise the importance of access to green spaces, with regard to the general wellbeing of our staff, students and the local community. The Strategy describes in broad terms what our approach to biodiversity management will be and what we intend to do. We will be guided by the principles laid out in our Sustainability Strategy:

Embedding sustainability

Engaging and empowering

Agility; to harness innovation and embrace change

Promoting efficiency

Continuous improvement This Biodiversity Strategy is built upon key themes from our Sustainability Strategy which are key to creating an organisation that acts progressively and respects the spaces in which it operates (environment, market place and community).

David Duncan Chair; Sustainability Delivery Board

Vision

“An effectively managed estate that operates according to the principles of environmental best practice, and that provides a range of biodiverse habitats, along with accessible green spaces for our staff and students”

“A University community that appreciates the importance of biodiversity”

Mission

“To increase the area of biodiversity‐rich habitat types across our various campus locations”

Context

University Strategy (2015‐2020)

A World Class and world‐changing University

Creating a World Class environment for learning and research

Discover and share knowledge that can change the world

Do justice to the beauty, legacy and utility of our surrounding areas

Estates Strategy (2014‐ 2024)

To support the University Strategy by creating world‐class places

Ensure a sustainable future by embracing a green agenda

University Sustainability Strategy (2016‐2020)

A whole of institution approach to sustainability

Respecting the environment

Building knowledge and sharing best practice

Impacting positively on people and communities

Estates five‐year Business Plan (2016‐2021)

Enhanced green spaces

Increased number of campus biodiversity initiatives

Capital and Maintenance Plan

Supporting delivery and operation of the £1b of new property assets

Maintain operation of the existing estate

Climate Change Adaptation Plan

Importance of green corridors, planting for increased shading and planting to reduce pluvial

run‐off

The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act, 2004

Public bodies and office‐holders must act to further the conservation of biodiversity

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, 2011

Public bodies must publish a biodiversity report every three years

Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Glasgow

Protect and enhance key habitats and species in the City and raise awareness of the

importance of biodiversity

Key themes

Delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy will be built on the following key themes:

Whole of institution approach

We will:

Appoint a Biodiversity and Arboriculture Coordinator for the University

Update the biodiversity section of the University’s sustainability webpages

Improve signage on campus, in order to better promote biodiversity initiatives

Work in collaboration with the Biodiversity Working Group (Graham Kerr [Zoology] Building),

in order to identify best practice and highlight learning opportunities for our students

Work in conjunction with the GUEST biodiversity and communications promoters, in order

to engage more effectively with staff and students

Respecting the environment

We will:

Continue to support the development of the Wildlife Garden on the Gilmorehill campus and

investigate the potential for similar initiatives on the Garscube campus that could support

teaching and learning at the Veterinary School

Identify existing areas of the estate with low biodiversity value and where appropriate,

improve with the addition of plant species that offer higher biodiversity value

Revise our approach to grass cutting so that, where appropriate, areas are not unnecessarily

cut

Prioritise native species when carrying out replanting

Minimise the use of insecticides and pesticides on campus; where possible encouraging

parasites as a control mechanism

Consider potential of plant species to adapt to future changes in climate (milder/wetter

winters and warmer/drier summers) when carrying out replanting

Consider the potential of appropriate planting to

o provide increased shading in summertime

o help mitigate for increases in pluvial run‐off, thus supporting sustainable urban

drainage systems (SUDS)

Identify wildlife corridors on‐campus and produce long‐term plans for their retention and

enhancement

Produce woodland management plans for all areas of our estate, as appropriate

Develop an appropriate programme of work for the management of invasive non‐native

species across the estate

Identify opportunities for the installation of green roofs and walls

Becoming a positive force in the market place

We will:

Endeavour to support local suppliers (Central Belt) and use Scottish‐ or UK‐grown plants,

where possible; plants of Scottish provenance are to be preferred at Sites of Importance for

Nature Conservation (SINCs)

Ensure that all contractors working on the estate, do so in accordance with British Standard

5837 (Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction)

Ensure that all contractors working on the estate, do so in accordance with British Standard

42020 (Biodiversity; code of practice for planning and development)

Building knowledge and sharing best practice

We will:

Carry out an annual tree survey of our estate (to BS standard)

Carry out formal surveys for breeding birds (from March to August) at our Gilmorehill and

Garscube campuses

Carry out formal surveys for invertebrates at our Gilmorehill and Garscube campuses

Carry out a Phase‐1 habitat survey of our Cochno Farm and Rowardennan sites

Repeat the Phase‐1 habitat survey of our Gilmorehill and Garscube campuses on a 5‐yearly

basis

Investigate the feasibility of composting some of our green arisings on site

Promote best working practices within the Grounds’ team, with respect to biodiversity

Ensure that all project managers and contractors working on the estate consult with

Grounds’ supervisors, where planned works may impact on green spaces; priority should be

given to preventing any adverse impacts, with any need for mitigating measures also

considered

Impact on people and communities

We will continue to:

Develop the Viewfield Lane Community Garden

Provide biodiversity‐related learning opportunities to our students, in the form of

internships

Support the activities of related student clubs and societies (e.g. Wildlife Gardeners,

Beekeeping Society)

Provide accessible green spaces for our staff, students and the local community

Biodiversity action plan for 2018/2019

This action plan has been developed with the use of information contained within several previous

studies of the Estate; tree, habitat and fauna surveys that were carried out either by consultants or

by our students, as part of their ongoing studies. Of particular use in this regard were the Phase‐I

habitat studies of the Gilmorehill and Garscube campuses (Archer, Brown & Rae, 2015) and a recent

dissertation entitled ‘Assessing and identifying improvements to enhance biodiversity at the

University of Glasgow’ (Morrin, 2017).

All of this information has been collated by one of our GUEST biodiversity promoters (Niamh

Esmonde), with guidance from Dr Stewart White (Chair of Biodiversity Working Group), into a series

of campus maps which identify specific areas of the estate where the management of biodiversity

could be improved (See Appendix 1).

The specific actions and outcomes for 2018/19 that will help deliver the five‐year biodiversity

strategy are detailed in the tables below.

1.0 Whole‐of‐institution approach

Objective KPI What does good look like?

Owner Progress

Share results of survey work carried out by students during 17/18, by Jun’19

Survey work published

Survey results available on University’s sustainability webpages

SW

In accordance with requirements under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, 2011 a UofG biodiversity report will be published, by Jun’19

Biodiversity report available on University’s sustainability webpages

The University publishesa biodiversity report every three years, highlighting progress made

SM/SW

Initiate dialogue with academic staff at School of Interdisciplinary Studies around general approach to biodiversity management and gain understanding of research expertise

Key biodiversitycontacts at Dumfries campus identified

Transfer of knowledge and expertise from academic staff and students to Estates and Commercial Services staff. Potential to provide learning opportunities for students

SM

2.0 Respecting the environment


Owner Progress

Re‐plant selected areas

around Fraser Building car

park, by Apr’19

50m2 of shrubs and herbaceous perennials planted

Shrub beds contain wide variety of native plant species to support biodiversity

SMcA

Re‐plant selected areas

around Kelvin Building car

park, by Mar’19

50m2 of shrubs and herbaceous perennials planted

Shrub beds contain wide variety of native plant species to support biodiversity

SMcA

Re‐sow annual wildflower

seed mix at Botany Gate,

Fraser Building, Isabella

Elder Building and

Hetherington Building, by

May’19

400m2 of turf planted with annual wildflower seed mix

Lawn areas support increasing numbers of pollinators

SMcA

Tree planting (Sorbus) on

West Medical Building

grass area, by May’19

6 trees planted Trees on campus support biodiversity

SMcA

Increase area of

wildflower turf planted on

Gilmorehill campus

(Library and

Hetherington), by May’19

150m2 of wildflower turf planted


SMcA

Nectar rich bulb mix

planted around Reading

Room, by Nov’18

100m2 of nectar rich bulb mix planted


SMcA Achieved

Replace yew hedging at

Bower Building, by Mar’19

50m of yew hedging replaced with shrubs and herbaceous perennials

Border areas/hedging support biodiversity

SMcA

Increase the area of high

biodiversity value ground

cover in the Viewfield

Lane Gardens by 100m2, by

May ’19

Improved biodiversity potential of 100m2 of previously unplanted areas

Border areas of Viewfield Lane Gardens (building side of fences) are planted out to improve biodiversity value.

GUEST Gardening/Biodiversity promoter


planted around Small

Animal Hospital and

McCall Building, by Nov’18



SMcA

Rear of South Lodge on

Garscube estate replanted

with shrubs, by Mar’19

30 large shrubs (mixed species) and 1 tree planted

Marginal areas on campus support biodiversity

SMcA

Rear of Jarrett Building on

Garscube estate replanted

80m2 of shade tolerant native


SMcA

with shrubs/trees, by

Apr’19

shrubs/trees planted

Woodland pathway from

South Lodge to Main

Entrance of Garscube

Estate cleared, by Mar’19

Invasive non‐native rhododendrons removed from 3m wide pathway


SMcA

Plant area around ‘stone

stairs’ (riverbank on

Garscube estate) with

woodland shrubs, by

Apr’19

Existing woodland bed replanted with shrubs, perennials and bulbs

Woodland areas on campus support biodiversity

SMcA

Soft landscaping

improvements around

McCall Building, by Jun’19

250m of dead hedging replaced with shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants


SMcA

Replanting of

slopes/gabions around

McCall Building car park,

by Jun’19

150m2 planted with bulbs and ground cover


SMcA

Sow wildflower seed mix

and poppies on slopes to

rear of Stoker Building, by

Apr’19

80m2 sown Lawn areas support increasing numbers of pollinators

SMcA


planted around Mary

Stewart Building, by

Nov’18

290m2 planted Lawn areas support increasing numbers of pollinators

SMcA

Replant riverbank shrub

beds at Garscube campus;

eco plug poplar tree

stumps, by Mar’19

60m2 of beds re‐planted

Beds replanted with woodland shade tolerant plants; woodland areas support biodiversity

SMcA


planted on Islay Road

grass area, by Nov’18



SMcA


planted on various

locations (main driveway)

at Garscube campus, by

Nov’18



SMcA

Increase the area of

wildflower turf on the

Small Animal Hospital

roof, by May’19

1500m2 of wildflower turf planted


SMcA

North Lodge entrance

(Garscube) replanted with

80m2 planted Woodland areas support biodiversity

SMcA

trees/woodland plants, by

Mar’19

Commence woodland

under planting; woodland

area behind security

(Garscube), by May’20

1000 woodland plants (mixed species) introduced

Woodland areas support biodiversity

SMcA

North Lodge entrance

(Garscube) replanted with

trees/woodland plants, by

Mar’19

30m2 replanted with trees, shrubs and perennials


SMcA

Woodland bulbs planted

at various locations on

Gilmorehill and Garscube

campuses, by Mar’19

28,000 nectar rich bulbs planted


SMcA

Carry out a review of

current composting

activities at our Garscube

campus, by Mar’19

Expanded composting area on Garscube campus

Increased amount of composting carried out on site; reduced need to buy in topsoil

JM/SMcA

Develop a Woodland

Management Plan for the

Garscube campus and

investigate potential grant

funding (Woodlands

Improvement Grant for

woods in and around

towns) opportunities in

order to fund

improvements to our

woodlands, by Jun’20

Woodland Management Plan developed Route to market established for woodland improvements

Additional funds secured for improvements to woodland areas on Garscube campus

JF/JM/SMcA

3.0 Becoming a positive force in the market place


Owner Progress

Continue to prioritise local

suppliers when purchasing

plants and use Scottish‐ or

UK‐grown plants, where

possible

% of total spend on plants through local suppliers and on Scottish/UK grown plants

Local suppliers are the first point of contact when ordering plants/shrubs/trees for the Estate

JM/AR Ongoing

Modify our site induction

process to ensure that all

contractors working on the

estate do so in accordance

with British Standard 5837

(Trees in relation to design,

demolition and construction)

and British Standard 42020

Induction process refers explicitly to British Standard 5837 and British Standard 42020

Where planned works may impact on green spaces priority is given to preventing any adverse impacts, with any need for mitigating

JF/JM

(Biodiversity; code of

practice for planning and

development), by 2020

measures also considered

4.0 Building knowledge and sharing best practice


Owner Progress

Develop an add‐on for our Quemis asset management system that will enable us to carry out tree surveys of our estate on an annual basis, by April’20

Software add‐on developed, tested and fully functional

Grounds team are in a position to start adding the Estate’s trees onto our asset management system

JM/SMcA/DR

Ensure all project managers and Clerks of Works understand the need to comply with British Standard 5837 (Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction) and British Standard 42020 (Biodiversity; code of practice for planning and development), by Mar’19

Information provided to ensure Project Managers and Clerks of Works have working knowledge of British Standard 5837 British Standard 42020

Where planned works may impact on green spaces priority is given to preventing any adverse impacts, with any need for mitigating measures also considered

JF/JM/

Continue to support the work

of the GUEST biodiversity

promoter in maintaining the

University Wildlife Garden,

Sept’18‐Sept’19

Grounds team meet with GUEST biodiversity staff on a regular basis

GUEST staff have a good understanding of the work required in order to maintain the Wildlife Garden

JM/SMcA Ongoing

Co‐ordinate formal breeding

bird surveys on Gilmorehill

and Garscube campuses, Apr‐

Aug’19

Bird surveys carried out on annual basis

Improved understanding of bird life on our estate; opportunity for students to gain surveying experience

SW/SI (Biodiversity Working Group)

Co‐ordinate regular bat

surveying on Gilmorehill and

Garscube campuses, Mar‐

Oct’19

Bat surveys carried out on annual basis

Improved understanding of bat colonies on our estate; opportunity for students to gain surveying experience

SW (Biodiversity Working Group)

Co‐ordinate invertebrate

surveying on Gilmorehill and

Invertebrate surveys carried out on annual basis

Improved understanding of moth, butterfly

SW/GNHS (Biodiversity

Garscube campuses, Mar‐

Oct’19

and invertebrate colonies on our estate; opportunity for students to gain surveying experience

Working Group)

5.0 Impact on people and communities


Owner Progress

Support the Postgraduate

Research Student ‘lunchtime

gardening’ sessions at the

Viewfield Lane Gardens;

weekly Sept’18‐Sept’19

Weekly lunchtime gardening sessions run at the Viewfield Lane Gardens

Weekly lunchtime gardening sessions help promote Health & Wellbeing of PGR students

SM/JM/SMcA

Further develop two plots

(Gardens 3 and 4) on

Viewfield Lane Gardens to

provide produce for

Hospitality Services, thus

supporting the University’s

sustainable food agenda;

weekly Sept’18‐Sept’19

Viewfield Lane Gardens (Gardens 3 and 4) planted out to provide produce for use by Hospitality Services

Raised awareness around the importance of locally grown food; staff and students understand how to grow fruit/veg

SM/JM/SMcA

Support the ‘University of

Glasgow Gardeners’ project

that has been recently funded

via the Ferguson Bequest; as

required Jan’19‐Sept’19

Programme of gardening sessions/events for staff is successfully co‐ordinated

Promotion of staff health and wellbeing via a programme of gardening sessions

SM/JM/SMcA

Support the development of a

wildlife garden on the

Garscube campus, working in

conjunction with staff from

MVLS, by Sept’20

Detailed plan for wildlife garden at Garscube developed

Garscube wildlife garden supports learning/teaching of Veterinary students w.r.t. biodiversity

KMcK, JM, SMcA, SM

Provide continuing support

for the activities of the

Beekeeping Society at the

Viewfield Lane Gardens,

ongoing

Beekeeping Society allocated space in Viewfield Lane Gardens

Increased number of students have opportunity to develop beekeeping skills

SM Ongoing

Appendix 1

Figure 1 – Map of Gilmorehill and Hillhead campus. Orange = potential biodiversity area, Green = high biodiversity area,

Yellow – intermediate biodiversity area, Blue = pond, Pink = current wildflower meadow

Figure 2 – Map of Garscube campus. Green = high biodiversity areas, Yellow = intermediate biodiversity areas, Blue = River, Purple = areas for non‐mowing and introducing wildflowers and bulbs

Figure 3 – Map of Cochno farm estate. Yellow = intermediate biodiversity areas, Green = high biodiversity area, Blue =

River

BiodiversityStrategy (2016 2021) · University Sustainability Strategy (2016‐2020) A whole of institution approach to sustainability Respecting the environment Building knowledge

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