{"id":1726,"date":"2026-06-30T12:04:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T11:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/sustainability\/?p=1726"},"modified":"2026-06-30T12:04:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T11:04:37","slug":"raise-nature-plan-our-new-plan-for-a-nature-positive-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/sustainability\/2026\/06\/30\/raise-nature-plan-our-new-plan-for-a-nature-positive-future\/","title":{"rendered":"RAISE Nature Plan:\u00a0 Our new plan for a Nature Positive Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This month, the Sustainability team launched its new RAISE Nature Plan 2026-2030<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Nature Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on a strong foundation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our 523-acre Loughborough campus is already one of the largest and most biodiverse university estates in the UK. Around \u00be 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our commitment to nature has already been recognised externally. In 2023, Loughborough University received Ark Wildlife\u2019s highest Platinum Tier award for its work supporting wildlife and biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RAISE Framework.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The new nature plan is based off 5 key drivers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n