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About biodiversity

²ÝÁñÉçÇøµØÖ· of Exeter’s grounds and gardens span 153 hectares of rich and diverse habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife including amphibians, birds, insects, mammals and reptiles, forming important ecological links to surrounding natural areas in Exeter. 

Biodiversity Commitment 

²ÝÁñÉçÇøµØÖ· recognises biodiversity as essential for clean air, water, food and ecological resilience.  

The  pledge was signed in 2022, committing us to establish a biodiversity baseline, set targets and report annually - leading to the development of our . 

Actions include: 

• Creation of wildflower meadows that support pollinators and visual diversity
• Installation of bug hotels, tree planting and removal of invasive species 
• Reduced pesticide use and protection measures for vulnerable species 
• Public engagement through bioblitzes, birdwatching, tree seed collection and volunteering activities 

Habitats & Natural Features 

²ÝÁñÉçÇøµØÖ· grounds feature: 

• Registered County Wildlife Site at Lower Hoopern Valley
• Watercourses and ponds
• Diverse planting collections
• Wildflower meadows
• Over 10,000 trees - 388 tree species from 6 continents - that remove over 3.5 tonnes of pollution from the air, store nearly 5,290 tonnes of carbon and prevent 8,390m of water run-off on campus
• Landscapes designed by renowned horticultural families and maintained to preserve rare and exotic species

Grounds Team Sustainability Approach 

Key priorities include: 

• Wellbeing
  • Extensive green spaces and trails promote mental and physical health
  • Benches made from sustainable hardwood
  • Self guided‑walks (horticultural highlights, tree trails, biodiversity trails, water walks, sound trail and out in nature trail) help the community connect with nature
• Communication & Engagement
  • Environmental information boards
  • The Grounds team runs volunteer sessions; Garden Involvement Volunteers Events and Veg Heads Volunteer Sessions tending the vegetable garden that provides produce for the University kitchens
• Sustainable Operations:
  • Use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to minimise chemical pesticide reliance 
  • Battery powered tools and vehicles to reduce fossil fuel use 
  • Sustainable plant production that avoids peat 
  • Tree cover management aligned with environmental benefits 
  • Install bird, bat and swift boxes 
  • Build and install bug hotels and insect palaces 
  • Preserve and enhance existing wildlife habitats 
  • Introduce wildflower meadows and nectar beds 
  • Plant a diverse range of flowering plants and shrubs, to encourage year round wildlife activity 
  • Reduce mowing regimes around the margins of amenity open space 
  • Naturalise bulbs 
  • Create woodland habitat piles from materials generated on campus, to provide sources of food, shelter and hibernation sites 
  • Veteranise suitable trees to provide standing dead wood 
  • Use mulches on planted beds to reduce reliance on chemical weed control 
  • Avoid non-essential tree works and hedge pruning during the bird nesting season 
  • Stimulate natural habitats by leave eco-strips near streams and woodland edges 

A new, overarching Sustainability Strategy is currently being developed to replace the Environmental Sustainability Policy and will define how the University responds to its most significant sustainability impacts – both within our campuses and across the wider communities we influence. Find out more here.

Campus Recognition & Stewardship 

As ambassadors for sustainability and biodiversity, the dedicated Grounds team maintains two national plant collections ( ²¹²Ô»å ), manages tree stock of over 10,000 trees and supports specialist habitats year round.

²ÝÁñÉçÇøµØÖ·’s campuses continue to be celebrated as among the most beautiful and botanically rich in the UK. ²ÝÁñÉçÇøµØÖ· Campus is an , has been awarded  and contributes significantly to the region’s environmental and ecological value.  

View the University’s Sustainability Strategies, Policies and Standards .

Please visit the University’s  webpages for further information.