The University of Worcester has secured two national sustainability awards following efforts protect nature on its campus.

The institution achieved silver at the Green Apple Environment Awards, thanks to its initiatives such as wildflower planting, which promote biodiversity.

Further acknowledgment for the university's efforts came with a Highly Commended in the Nature Positive category at the Green Gown Awards.

 

 

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Another highlight of the award ceremony was the Highly Commended accolade in the Reporting with Influence category, which judges how effectively sustainability initiatives are communicated.

Professor David Green CBE DL, vice Chancellor and chief executive of the university, said: "We are delighted that our work on sustainability has been recognised once again.

"Global heating leading to more extreme and dangerous weather, poor air quality which harms the health of so many, diminishing biodiversity and loss of habitat which threatens species, are urgent questions of our time.

"We are deeply committed to improving our sustainability and to work with the wider community in Worcester in a purposeful, professional, scientific way.

"Our wildflower planting is beautiful and has a positive impact on increasing biodiversity and supporting our native British species."

The Green Apple Awards aim to reward and promote eco-friendly best practices, with the university having won the award seven times.

The Green Gown Awards highlight exemplary sustainability initiatives by higher and further education institutions and applauds best practice within the sector.

The recently introduced Nature Positive category recognises institutions that are actively promoting nature on their campuses.

The university boasts several wildflower and grassland sites on its campus, encouraging nature to flourish.

Additions such as bird and bat boxes and crops to assist farmland birds have also been installed.

In 2022, the university became one of 117 universities worldwide to join the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, committing to work towards reversing biodiversity decline.

The university is considered one of the most sustainable institutions both in the UK and internationally, as in 2019, it was declared the Sustainability Institution of the Year in the Green Gown Awards for UK and Ireland.

Electric charging points have also been installed at the University of Worcester Arena's public car park, one of the largest EV parks in Europe.