Nature and biodiversity

Nature is a defining part of Sheffield’s identity. The city is one of the greenest in Europe, with parks, woodlands and river valleys running through neighbourhoods and out towards the Peak District. Our campus sits within this landscape and has an important role to play in protecting and restoring biodiversity for our community and for the wider city.

We have been working to enhance biodiversity across our estate for more than a decade. Since publishing our first Biodiversity Action Plan in 2013, we have changed how we manage land and green spaces so they better support local ecosystems. This includes management plans for key sites like Belgrave Woodland, reduced grass cutting in selected areas to allow wildflower-rich grasslands to develop, and a significant reduction in herbicide use through no-spray zones and more targeted application. We have adopted nature-based solutions where possible - for example, using grass carp to manage algal blooms at Endcliffe Pond without harming the surrounding ecosystem.

Tree and planting management have also evolved. We retain deadwood where it is safe to do so to create habitats for insects and birds, schedule pruning outside nesting season and carry out ecological checks before emergency works. New planting schemes use drought-tolerant, wildlife-friendly species that also help give the campus a distinctive character. Wildflower meadows have been expanded across the main campus, residential areas, playing fields and satellite sites, and we operate a proactive 2:1 tree replacement approach to increase canopy cover and improve climate resilience over time.

In 2023 we published the third edition of our Biodiversity Action Plan, with new actions such as supporting hedgehog recovery and improving ecological connections between the University estate and surrounding green spaces. At the same time, we are recognising that our impacts on nature go beyond the campus boundary. The goods and services we buy, and the land-use changes linked to them, are likely to have a much larger biodiversity footprint than our direct operations. Becoming a truly nature-positive university therefore means addressing both our on-site habitats and the impacts hidden in our supply chains.

Our vision is to be a nature-positive university where habitats are protected, restored and connected; where green and blue spaces are part of everyday life for staff and students; and where biodiversity is considered in planning, procurement and estate management decisions. Nature-based solutions – from rain gardens and green roofs to tree planting and wetland features – will help us manage flood risk, reduce heat, support wildlife and create a healthier, more restorative campus.