This month, the Sustainability team launched its new RAISE Nature Plan 2026-2030, setting out an ambitious vision to enhance biodiversity, restore habitats, support wellbeing, and use our campuses as living laboratories for learning and research. The plan represents an important step forward in our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for both people and nature.

Why Nature Matters

Nature is facing unprecedented pressures, with biodiversity declining across the globe. Universities have a vital role to play in addressing these challenges, and at Loughborough, we recognise that our responsibility extends beyond protecting green spaces. We have an opportunity to lead by example, demonstrating how campuses can actively contribute to nature recovery while enriching the experiences of students, staff and local communities.

The benefits of nature are not only environmental. Access to green spaces and opportunities to connect with wildlife support both physical and mental wellbeing. A more biodiverse campus can improve health, enhance learning environments and create stronger connections between people and the natural world.

Building on a strong foundation

Our 523-acre Loughborough campus is already one of the largest and most biodiverse university estates in the UK. Around ¾ of our campus is open green space, home to more than 7,500 trees, two ancient woodlands and a wide variety of wildlife. Species monitoring has recorded bumblebees, bats, butterflies, birds, freshwater invertebrates and a rich diversity of plant life across the estate.

Our commitment to nature has already been recognised externally. In 2023, Loughborough University received Ark Wildlife’s highest Platinum Tier award for its work supporting wildlife and biodiversity.

Our London campus also benefits from its proximity to significant green spaces, including Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, creating opportunities for staff and students to engage with nature and sustainability initiatives in an urban environment.

The RAISE Framework.

The new nature plan is based off 5 key drivers:

• Recover – Protecting and restoring existing habitats and wildlife populations
• Act – Taking meaningful action to support sustainability goals and environmental commitments
• Improve – Enhancing biodiversity through habitat creation, restoration and wildlife corridors
• Sustain – Managing our grounds and buildings in ways that support long-term ecological resilience
• Educate – Using our campuses as living laboratories to inspire learning, research and engagement

Together, these themes provide a clear roadmap for how we will become a more nature positive university over the next 5 years.

Working beyond our campus boundaries

Nature recovery cannot be achieved in isolation. The University’s commitments through initiatives such as the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Civic Partnership, the Leicestershire Climate and Nature Pact, and the Nature Positive Universities Alliance demonstrate the importance of collaboration in tackling biodiversity loss at both local and global scales.

Looking ahead

The launch of the RAISE Nature Plan marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the university. Building on a strong biodiversity baseline, the plan will guide future habitat restoration, species protection, sustainable estate management and community engagement activities across our campuses.

Most importantly, this plan is intended to be collaborative. Whether through volunteering, research, teaching, sport or everyday actions, everyone in the Loughborough community has a role to plan in helping nature thrive.

How you can get involved

• Get involved in volunteering
• Use the campus as a living laboratory
• Sign up to Biodiversity Literacy Training
• Be a citizen scientist, join our biodiversity surveys

To stay up to date with our opportunities to get involved, keep an eye out on our Instagram and Events Page.