Biodiversity and grounds

We now have published our first version of the Biodiversity Action Plan. The plan describes the habitats and species we have on the Cranfield University campus and outlines future plans for conservation and management. Take a read of our Biodiversity Action Plan. Please also read about our urban BESS research project. 

As Cranfield is a hotspot for a variety of plant, animal, and fungi species, we run a series of lunchtime walks around the campus to help staff and students spot these elusive organisms. 

To help attract birds such as blue tits, robins, starlings, sparrows and yellow hammers we have installed nest boxes across the Cranfield campus. Initially we engaged with a local charity which supports individuals with learning disabilities to make bird boxes for us. Following this we ran a volunteering session during one of our annual Green Week events for staff and students to make more bird and bat boxes which resulted in over 25 new nest boxes located across the Cranfield campus.

Some of the areas set aside for conservation on the University grounds have been created through the BESS national research project in collaboration with Sheffield University, Exeter University and the British Trust for Ornithology.

The county flower of Bedfordshire is the Bee Orchid which can be seen flowering at various locations on the Cranfield campus in May and June.

To create a baseline for our Cranfield campus Biodiversity Action Plan, we undertook a "BioBiltz" event, together with the Bedfordshire Natural History Society (BNHS), as a way of surveying the wildlife on campus.