Loading

Lockdown in Nature A newsletter from the University of Lincoln Sustainability team.

Welcome to the fifth edition of our Lockdown in nature newsletter. Whilst lockdown #2 may have ended in the UK, our team has made the decision to still provide regular newsletters for the foreseeable future with a Christmas break.

We're currently posting a daily #photoinnature on Twitter. Whether your photo was taken recently or over the last year, please do get involved:

The Secret Life of Fungi

Wednesday 13th January 2021, 11:00 - 12:00.

Join us for a free webinar on The Secret Life of Fungi, presented by Dr Sandra Varga.

Fungi are everywhere and play critical roles in most ecosystems, yet more than 90% of them are still currently unknown to science. In this webinar, we will discover some of their fascinating secrets, from their peculiar life cycles, captivating shapes and colours, to some of their medicinal uses and more.

Dr Sandra Varga is a Senior Lecturer in Life Sciences at the University of Lincoln, and an evolutionary ecologist deeply interested in understanding how plants interact with their environment (including aboveground and belowground interactions) and the evolution of plant breeding systems.

This event is free and will be hosted on Microsoft teams. Please email environment@lincoln.ac.uk for an invite.

Habitat Enhancements at the Brayford Pool

It is more vital than ever that we continue to support our native wildlife in the city, this week, Gail Talton, Project Officer at the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust, tells us about a recent project that will benefit wildlife in the Brayford Pool.

Having installed floating bio-havens along the concrete wall on the eastern bank of the Brayford Pool earlier this year, we were really impressed with how quickly they established and were attracting dragon flies and other insects and how they immediately softened the aesthetic of the area, giving it a more natural feel.

Installing the coir rolls into the Brayford bank.

Over the past week our contractors (Lions Environmental) set about making some improvements to the southern bank alongside the marina. With generous support from the Environment Agency and the People’s Postcode Lottery we were able to procure and install seven pallets of coir rolls that had been pre-planted with native freshwater plants, edging over 100m of the exposed bank.

The coir rolls, secured into place with wooden stakes and twine, not only improve the look of the area but will also help to prevent further bank erosion as well as providing additional habitat for the Brayford wildlife – offering food and shelter and attracting pollinators.

We are really pleased with how well the project has developed and can’t wait to see how it flourishes in the spring and summer.

View some photos of the project below:

Bra Bank to be introduced on Campus to support Breast Cancer Research

If you’ve been having a clear-out at home during the lockdown period, we wanted to let you know that a Bra Bank is being set up on the Brayford Campus to support developing countries and raise money for ‘Against Breast Cancer’.

The initiative is being launched as part of the Staff Sustainability Advocates Scheme and the bra bank will be located in the entrance to the Nicola de la Haye building every Monday after Christmas. If you're eager to donate, you can also donate at the bra bank on Monday 14th December.

Covid-19 guidance will be followed whilst managing the donations and we ask that all bras are washed and in reasonable condition prior to donation.

Rather than sending items to landfill, the bra recycling scheme upcycles and gives bras a new lease of life in developing countries where these items remain too expensive to produce locally. For every tonne of bras collected, Against Breast Cancer receives £700 to fund their research.

You can read more about how the bras will be used to fund via breast cancer research on the Against Breast Cancer website.

For enquiries, you can contact Fiona Robertson in the Fashion Department: FRobertson@lincoln.ac.uk.

Recycling in Student Accommodation

Bailey Marchant, VP Campaigns and Environment, has contacted ten student accommodations on behalf of the student members of Lincoln Students’ Union, to request that they consider introducing recycling facilities within their buildings. View her video below.

The Sustainability team will be publishing a helpful projects page for recycling on campus this week. We welcome any queries, so please just drop us an email to environment@lincoln.ac.uk

What's on:

  • Wildflowers in Lockdown: Professor Libby John, Pro Vice Chancellor / Head of College of Science at the University of Lincoln, will be running wildflower identification sessions Friday 11th & 18th December at 11:00.
  • Online Lecture: How to Survive and Thrive in the Maritime Zone - as part of the Great Lives Lecture series by Love Lincs Plants, on Tuesday 8th December at 19:00, Dr Chris Gibson, avid photographer, conservationist and naturalist, will be giving a talk on coast and dune systems.
  • Name the hedgehog fundraiser, UoL Wildlife & Conservation Society - Some hoggies over at Wild Things Lincoln that need names! Buy ticket at the SU website and then send the society a message with your entry! Buy up to 10 entries per person - they're only 50p. Ends 21st December.
Image of one of the rescued hoggies in need of a name.
  • Lunchtime walking group - every Wednesday at midday. Check out the Homehub for more information
  • The Secret Life of Fungi - Join us in finding out all about the secret life of fungi. 13th January 2021 11:00 - 12:00
  • The CLEAN Hub - the University of Lincoln has partnered with C.L.E.A.N to deliver our first ever joint litter picking equipment library on the Brayford Campus. Find out what's available and how you can make a booking:

Support your local sustainable/ethical businesses

The latest zero waste store is set to open in Lincoln Bailgate this week, joining Fill & Forage, Greens Health Food and Doddington Hall in selling sustainable and ethical wears. We've listed some of our favourite sustainable and ethical businesses in Lincoln below.

Lincoln Eco Pantry has been a few years in the making, and we're very exited to support this and the other sustainable businesses in the area. Check them out for reusable/refillable products and fab Christmas ideas!

Fill and Forage; family run, eco friendly Zero Waste Store in Lincoln selling plastic free, bulk refill food, household and health & beauty products:

Cultivate; a herbal apothecary, community space, small shop and whizz at herbal teas:

Green's Health Foods; your local independent retailer of natural health foods and supplements:

Doddington Hall; family-owned and run Historic House with fabulous gardens, award-winning Farm Shop, Bike, Clothing & Home Shops;

The Big Student Christmas Market; this year, Lincoln SU has launched a virtual Christmas market, explore the virtual stalls and grab yourself some homemade or refurbished items from local, student run businesses:

December Campaign - Switch Off

Going home for Christmas? Beccy talks you through all of the things that you'll need to remember to do before you leave Lincoln.

Enjoyed this newsletter? Please tap appreciate below!

Credits:

Images & words by Alex Foxley-Johnson & Tracey Turton