Fireworks

November 9, 2018

The Grounds department don’t just cover the landscape, outdoor sports facilities and biodiversity we also get involved in numerous events that happen throughout the year working with many departments, student societies and volunteers for different projects.Over the last few days we have been involved with the set up and de-rig of the fireworks event that took place on Monday 5th November including assisting with the construction of the bonfire working with the Health and Safety team and student volunteers.

Bees update

October 16, 2018

The Bees of Brunel seem to have settled in pretty well now and are still fairly active despite the mixed weather we have been enduring recently. Here is one taking a breather up at the sports park.

Quad grass

August 28, 2018

It’s good to see the grass growing again on the quad after all the activities that have taken place on it these last few months ,with a bit of TLC from the team and the use of the growth mats it looks much more healthy- just in time for the next onslaught of activities during fresher’s week no doubt.

Brunel Bats

August 10, 2018

People have asked what species of bats we have on Site ,well we have recorded around six species at the moment in various locations which isn’t bad considering how much light pollution is generated from the campus, the limited habitat (which we are improving) and all the activity going on. Bats play an important part in our environment and of course are a protected species so we need to do what we can to ensure their well being around site so keep an eye out for the various bat boxes which will be going up over the next few months. The picture below is of a soprano pipistrelle (pipistrellus pygmaeus) which we do have on site but this one was actually taken at another location on a bat box check last month but it does give a close up view of the size and what one species of  bat on site looks like(only licenced people can handle bats).

Photo by SGC©

 

Jaguars and Bees spotted on |Campus

July 20, 2018

Yes, we have had both on campus -Jacksonville Jaguars paid  us a visit last week running their Academy up at the Sports Park.Two American football pitches were marked out on the only bit of green grass we appear to have at the moment.

We also now have a beehive on campus set up, it is a student union project with a plan to produce honey, bees are very important pollinators so its great to have on site!

Brunel Hedgehog

June 8, 2018

While continuing with the bat survey came across the Brunel hedgehog queuing at the calisthenics bars, being shy it trundled off into the shrubbery nearby, lookout for our hedgehog as they tend to have no road sense.

Tree felling

May 29, 2018

Had to take down a couple of old white willows which had been pollarded in the past, badly rotted at the base so a high risk of failure ,not good when leaning over into the car park. Checked them out for any bat roosts luckily they were all clear so could be felled without too much hassle, replanting programme already planned.