Students help enhance biodiversity at UHI House
UHI Argyll HND Horticulture students have taken an active role in supporting UHI’s commitment to improving biodiversity across its campuses by conducting a detailed ecological and biodiversity baseline survey at UHI House in Inverness.
During a field trip in April, the students, guided by their lecturer Annabel Harper, used the surveying techniques learned in their Ecological and Conservation Horticulture unit to gather data on the flora, fauna, soil, infrastructure, and social use of UHI House.
Methods included quadrat sampling, species observation, soil texture analysis, and informal interviews with staff and students who use the courtyard space.
The students found that the habitat condition is currently at a low to medium level, but there are some areas of habitat interactions and species diversity where several bumble species were observed.
Based on their findings, the students produced a report with recommendations for improving the grounds of UHI House and to enhance its ecological value. These include redesigning the planted areas with biodiversity as a central focus and reinstating the medicinal planting beds to support learning and research.
Building on this work, next year’s HNC Horticulture students from UHI Inverness will be invited to redesign the courtyard planting.
Amber Crowley, UHI Programme Leader for Horticulture, said:
“This project epitomises collaborative working in the UHI partnership and the benefits to students, UHI and the species that call our campuses home when we work together to improve our grounds.”
Tim Skyrme, Head of Facilities and Procurement at UHI, added:
"It was great to utilise the UHI partnership’s own expertise and capability to undertake the surveys. We’re looking forward to working closely with UHI Inverness students in the future who will be helping us create a more biodiverse environment around UHI House. This will be a real benefit to plants, animals and humans alike’.
Find out more about the Horticulture courses on offer at UHI Argyll.