This project is improving habitat environments across three neighbouring educational sites - the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester College, and Cirencester Deer Park School.

Wild Campus Cirencester

Royal Agricultural University

European Regional Development Fund

£731,631

European Regional Development Fund - £365,816

PROJECT STATUS

     

Contracted

In delivery

Completed

 

SUMMARY

 

This project is improving habitat environments across three neighbouring educational sites - the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester College, and Cirencester Deer Park School. The result will be a Wild Campus connecting Cirencester to the surrounding countryside.

 

What is Wild Campus Cirencester?

 

This project is improving habitat environments across three neighbouring educational sites - the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester College, and Cirencester Deer Park School. The result will be a Wild Campus connecting Cirencester to the surrounding countryside.

This will create a haven for birds, small mammals and amphibians, as well as pollinators and their insect prey, plus a dark corridor for bats. Bats are protected, iconic and account for over a quarter of mammal species in the UK. Alongside protection laws, projects to enhance habitat have helped bat populations to stabilise after a century of decline.

This project will include planting wildlife-friendly native shrubs and wildflowers, replacing outdoor lighting in line with Bat Conservation Trust guidance, diversifying large areas of lawn, and installing over 100 bat and bird boxes. Signs will promote the improvements, increasing understanding and access to wildlife for our 4,250 students and over 10,000 annual visitors.

The combined area of the campus is approximately half the size of Cirencester’s town centre. The project connects wildlife populations north and south of the A419 that have been divided by the bright lights and amenity grass covering large areas of the university, college and school sites.

 

Who benefits from this project?

This project will benefit wildlife in the area, in particular bats and other rare/protected species. In turn, this will benefit local residents and businesses by improving the natural environment.

 

What stage is the project currently at?

Wild Campus Cirencester began in February 2020 and will complete in December 2022.

 

Why is the project important for Gloucestershire and the local community?

Records show eight bat species locally which can benefit from the Wild Campus; common, soprano, Nathusius’ pipistrelle, noctule, serotine, lesser horseshoe, brown long-eared and barbasettle.

Other species in the area which stand to benefit include hedgehogs, tawny and barn owls, house martins, swifts, house sparrows, thrushes, dunnocks, skylarks, toads, frogs, smooth newts, great crested newts, slow-worms and lizards.

Engaging with wildlife-rich environments has also been shown to benefit people’s wellbeing, and this project will engage with the communities both on-campus and in the neighbouring town.

 

 

What are the final results of the project?

Wild Campus Cirencester will result in significant habitat improvements across the combined campus of the university, college and school.  250 hectares of bat territory will be supported, in and around Cirencester. 

 

Where can I find out more?

About: https://www.rau.ac.uk





 

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