Project: Bee post, bird boxes and bat boxes

Location: University of Glasgow campus

We completed a package of biodiversity installations at the University of Glasgow, adding habitat features to three distinct areas of the campus. Each element was sited to work with what was already there, rather than as a standalone gesture.

Bee post in the wildflower area

A bee post now stands within one of the university's established wildflower areas. Solitary bees need two things close together: forage and somewhere to nest. The meadow already provided the first. The post, drilled with nesting cavities of varying diameters, provides the second, placed in a sunny, sheltered position where emerging bees have flowers within easy reach.

Bird boxes by the student allotments

Bird boxes have been installed near the allotment space used by students. Allotments offer a reliable supply of invertebrates through the breeding season, making them a strong location for nesting birds. The boxes were positioned at suitable heights and orientations, away from prevailing weather and direct afternoon sun. Their location also gives students an everyday view of nesting activity alongside their growing work, linking food production and wildlife in a visible way.

Bat boxes near the Zoology building

Working with our tree surgeon, we installed bat boxes in mature trees close to the university's Zoology building. Safe working at height allowed the boxes to be placed high in the chosen tree, clear of clutter and with open flight lines, which bats need to use a roost. The setting near a teaching and research building adds a further dimension: features that can support study as well as wildlife.

Our approach

Biodiversity installations work best when they respond to their surroundings. We assess each site for existing habitat, forage, shelter and human use before choosing what goes where. The result is a small number of well-placed features, not a scattering of boxes.

If you manage a campus, estate or public site and would like to discuss biodiversity installations, get in touch.