Universities take up beekeeping and tree planting to help save the planet
SCOTTISH universities are among those across the UK stepping up efforts to be environmentally friendly, with measures ranging from beef and plastic bans to coaxing students into beekeeping on site and tree planting.
Scores of institutions have committed to tackling their carbon footprint by reducing meat consumption, switching to reusable straws, crockery and cutlery, and turning lights and screens off.
Other schemes included recycling used coffee grounds into sustainable biofuels, removing products containing palm oil, and planting native bulbs to attract birds and insects to university grounds.
Universities have pledged to go carbon neutral in a handful of cases, with details obtained under freedom of information laws showing the array of schemes being established at campuses across the country.
Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is pursuing beekeeping or honeyharvesting schemes, employing a dedicated beekeeper and keeping three hives in central Glasgow near the campus. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland planted trees to match its annual paper consumption.
Elsewhere, students and staff at Glasgow Caledonian University have been invited to either plant a tree at the university or at home as part of the Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback project.
Katie Muir, chair of the GSA’S beekeeping society, said: “The society was initially set up by a fourth-year product design student who happened to be a beekeeper and wanted to share the skill.
“In the first year there were around six members of the society and it has been growing year-on-year. We currently have around 30 members and are taught by an expert from the Glasgow Beekeepers Association.
“Beekeeping is actually comparatively easy and through the six-week course of lectures and practical sessions, which start when the temperature reaches 10C (50F), students have been able both to learn a new skill and support efforts to protect our bee colonies, which are so necessary for the planet.”
University leaders said the higher education sector “recognises the importance” of these issues to staff and students and is committed to making progress, while student groups praised universities for taking action – partly due to pressure from undergraduates.
While most have not opted to ban single-use plastic bottles, nearly one in three (42 institutions) are considering some sort of restriction. Levies on these items – or subsidies for those who bring reusable cups – are becoming popular, with 58 per cent saying they have introduced such as measure.
A Universities UK spokesman, which represents vice-chancellors, said: “Universities take climate change very seriously and recognise the importance of this issue to students and staff alike. They are leading the way in tackling global environmental challenges.
“Universities are working hard to tackle their own carbon footprints: investing in energy-saving technologies, finding sustainable supply chains and focusing on greater energy efficiency.”