With the recent mild damp weather during December there was plenty of badger activity around campus. Favourite feeding areas are a good place to set up our wildlife cameras and monitor the different movements of a number of species including the muntjac deer regularly seen along Nursery Lane by site 4. This is one of our badger family using a regular trail path through to this feeding ground where there are plenty of earthworms.
For the 5th year running Brunel University has been given the Green Flag award .This is a great achievement given the many challenges this year the Team has had to face to keep the campus in such good shape. Well done to all,not forgetting the contributions from the Site Services and Security Teams.
Here is just a selection of butterflies and moths that can be found on our campus. Do keep your eyes open for them where they can be often found around our wild flower areas,grasslands and shrubberies. Why not take part in the ‘Big Butterfly Count’ recording your sightings.
Across the campus wildflower turf has been installed to identified areas not only to brighten them up with the wonderful mix of colours but also to provide essential food for our very important pollinators including bees, hoverflies and butterflies . The picture below is taken close to our pond and the Wilfred Brown building.
Ten top tips for helping our hedgehogs.
You may have noticed the removal of the linear group of hybrid poplars by the entrance of the Sports centre car park,this is to remove the risk of failure on health and safety grounds.For the last ten years or so these trees have been carefully monitored as they have been affected by the hornet moth(Sesia apiformis) larvae boring in low down on the main trunk,this opens the tree up to a whole host of pathogens and gradually the trees become weakened and dysfunctional also where project work has taken place on paths and drainage over the years further weakening the root structure, causing the trees to decline.This decline could be seen in the dieback of the branches, the lack of vigour in the leaf canopy and the general health of the tree. Tree surgery has taken place over the years to keep the trees safe but with the failure of one of the healthier specimen’s the management plan has been accelerated. Plans are already being put into place to replant with more suitable species to enhance the area which will enhance the biodiversity of the campus.
While the North loop has been quiet with little traffic the team have taken the opportunity to take down one of the badly damaged Aspens which has now become a risk using the cherry picker owned by Estates. A new tree planting plan will be put into action with a more appropriate species being used to enhance biodiversity linking parts of the campus together.
Another mixed area created using wildflower turf around the Faraday accommodation, enhancing biodiversity by attracting many pollinating insects, butterflies etc as well as brightening up a difficult corner. lets hope vehicles keep off the area!
The Grounds department have been awarded for the fourth consecutive year the Green Flag Award which is the benchmark national standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom.Well done Team.
The Grounds Team have been very busy all through Covid -19 managing the campus landscape. Tree work has been carried out as per our survey and maintenance schedule including the reduction of the Salix alba’s along in the Lancaster hotel garden following a pollarding regime. Bat boxes and bird boxes are located in the vicinity helping the varied habitats along the river Pinn corridor.
