One of our campus pollinators

The University of Sussex has been presented with a Bees’ Needs Champion Award for 2021, marking the fourth year running the University has won the accolade.

Presented to only 21 institutions this year across the UK, the Bees’ Needs Champion Award is presented by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs and works in partnership with the Green Flag Awards. It recognises exceptional efforts toward supporting local bee populations, especially as part of practical groundskeeping and facilities management.

Provost Rachel Mills said: “We’re delighted to see our commitment to campus biodiversity recognised in this way. Through our Sustainable Sussex strategy we’ve already committed to setting aside at least 30%, 40% or 50% of campus land for nature. Our location in the South Downs means we have a unique opportunity and a responsibility to make the site as biodiverse as possible.

“Now we want to hear from you about how we make our these plans happen. Register now for the Big Biodiversity Conversation events on 28 April and have your say about how me make Sussex one of the most sustainable universities in the world.”

How we make Sussex bee-friendly

Our naturalised campus is managed by the Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF) Grounds team and features extensive wildflower gardens across the University, built from a variety of 40 pollinating plants, forming an ideal environment for pollinating insects in our unique South Downs environment.

SEF works with the Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI) in the School of Life Sciences, which studies honeybee populations and other social insects, aiming to achieve a careful balance between maintaining campus grounds for use by staff and students, and helping local bee populations plus fulfilling the biodiversity need of our local environment.

Find out more about our collective vision of creating the most biodiverse university campus in the UK.