Set on the
outskirts of Bath at the top of Claverton Down Hill, the Landscape Department is
looking at a number of ways to increase the biodiversity and maintain
environmental targets as green areas of the campus are being taken over either
by buildings being constructed or further car parks being created.
The University has
many environmental and biodiversity targets in place they need to meet and the
Landscaping Team are always looking for ways to reach and enhance these targets
to minimise the impact of new buildings on campus.
One example is an
area close to the main concourse of the University where a rockery existed on a
sloped embankment. The rockery was
removed to make way for three disabled parking bays that are now in place on a
raised level. This left an unsightly, unwelcoming wall in an area that had
built up its natural biodiversity over time. The team were keen to return this
to the area and to help soften the look of the new structure which surrounds and
supports the parking area.
After reading an
article about Mobilane the team realised that installing ivy green screens
would tick a number of environmental boxes. For a start the screens are easy to
maintain requiring pruning just twice a year there is also no irrigation system
needed and they provide an instant green result rather than needing to wait for
anything to grow up the walls.
Having seen the
vast aesthetic improvement with the installation on the new build the landscaping
team is now starting to look at other areas of the campus where similar such installations
could enhance the environment and rebuild the bio-diversity taken away by
building on open green spaces.
