Biodiversity

We are working to protect and enhance biodiversity, and there are a number of groups and initiatives at the University that focus on biodiversity.

Our goals are:

the surveying and monitoring of animals, plants and fungi
managing habitat infrastructure and planting
research and teaching
communication and engagement

For more details visit the Biodiversity Action at the University of St Andrews website.

What you can do

Join our Biodiversity Working Group

Become a part of the Biodiversity Working Group by emailing environment@st-andrews.ac.uk.

The purpose of the Biodiversity Working Group is to write and update our Biodiversity Strategy and carry out our Biodiversity Action Plan. The group supervises the monitoring of the biodiversity on the University’s estate so that we can reach our 2035 target of 60% of University land being managed with biodiversity as a priority, and for the University’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for biodiversity to be positive. This means increasing species richness and the quality of habitats for biodiversity and increasing engagement with biodiversity on University land through time.

Sign up for a Vertically Integrated Project (VIP)

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) give students from any discipline and level of study the opportunity to join a research team as part of their degree studies, some of which are focused on biodiversity.

Monitoring for the Biodiversity Working Group is carried out through the Biodiversity Literacy VIP, where students organise and carry out the mapping of species and habitats, setting up and maintentance of the monitoring systems, facilitating wider engagement, and reporting of the final KPIs.

Percentage of University property currently managed for biodiversity

Graph - green shows areas prioritised or managed for biodiversity

Percentage of University property we aim to manage for biodiversity by 2035

Graph - green shows areas we are aiming for in 2035

What we are doing

Meadows in the Making

The grant-funded Meadows in the Making project has enabled us to:

convert more than 17 hectares (ha) of closely mown grassland to meadow
create 4.8ha of new woodland
plant 2,255m of hedgerow

The project team are putting a transformational grassland management programme into practice. It involves less frequent mowing, a reduced carbon footprint, and richer spaces for biodiversity.

Working in partnership with St Andrews Botanic Garden, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, Fife Council and Crail Community Partnership, the initiative supports Fife Council’s Grassland Management aims for the Kingdom of Fife to convert 10% of amenity grassland to more natural landscapes to increase biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions.

St Andrews Nature Networks

This ambitious project created, restored and connected habitat at a landscape scale to improve ecological integrity along 16km of Fife coastline, from Guardbridge to Kingsbarns.

This was made possible through a collaboration of land managers who contributed 27 sites to help improve the quality and connectivity of habitat. Project partners included Fife Council, Abbeyford Leisure, Kinkell Byre and Rewilding Kinkell, Cambo Estate, Forestry and Land Scotland, the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews Botanic Garden, St Andrews Harbour Trust and Kincaple Farm. The University led the programme and created vibrant new habtiats on its own greenspace for people and wildlife to enjoy.

Together we created two wetland mosaics, planted 2,413m of native hedgerow, established 4.78ha of native woodland and 6,610m2 meadow, restored a saline lagoon, and brought 13.78 ha of neglected Site of Special Scientific Interest into conservation grazing with Highland cattle. The project created stepping stones for wildlife in existing greenspaces and helped to establish nature networks between surrounding villages.

Across 15 months, a total of 408 people engaged in 38 practical conservation volunteering opportunities and training sessions, including St Andrews students, staff and members of the local community.

The project was supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot. We're grateful to our funders, project partners and all of the volunteers who took part. We continue to manage these new spaces as they establish and seek funding to extend St Andrew's Nature Networks.

Video transcript

>> MAPSTONE: As a University, St Andrews puts sustainability absolutely at the heart of our operations and our culture.

>> WILLI: We've been absolutely delighted to work in partnership with land managers to restore nature at a landscape scale.

A collaboration of farmers, estates, businesses, public and voluntary organisations came together to improve the quality and connectivity of habitat at 27 sites along a 16 kilometre corridor.

This included: getting our own herd of Highland cows and conservation grazing in a neglected site of special scientific interest.

Creating two wetland mosaics on campus.

Planting nearly two and a half kilometres of native hedgerows and 4.7 hectares of native woodland.

Establishing swathes of wildflower meadow and restoring a saline lagoon.

>> REID: We've created a green space that everybody can share.

We've had a lot of great feedback from the students and the public as well.

>> CARSON: So I have seen it kind of transform from an empty field and to see it come to life over time has been really beautiful and gratifying.

>> FYFE: We have been looking after these Highland cows.

Their role is to graze the SSSI which runs along the coastland here.

We're working on rewilding what's left of the farmland here.

>> WALLACE: We planted one kilometre of hedgerow over three different sites.

We took out some old fence line and planted it with some new hedgerow.

It's going to have a lot of use for wildlife animals.

>> ERSKINE: It's fulfilled our long term ambition of trying to create more biodiversity across the estate but also to bring the community in with that.

>> WILLI: This was all made possible with the goodwill and enthusiasm of our project partners, staff at the university and a whopping 408 volunteers who took part in 38 practical sessions and training exercises.

Thank you to you all.