As part of the University of Aberdeen's ongoing commitment to sustainable development a number of students and staff will join University Vice Principal, Professor Dominic Houlihan, at the planting of a new wildflower meadow on King's College campus today (Wednesday April 23).
A vacant site bordering the University's MacRobert Building and King Street will be planted with nearly 2000 plants by over 20 student and staff volunteers. The 600 square metre site has been chosen to be in close proximity to a large number of staff and students in order to demonstrate the University's commitment to sustainable development and specifically to improve the environment and promote biodiversity on campus.
Specialist advice has been given to the volunteers by local nurserymen, Bob Davis of Forvie Tree Nursery and John Malster of Curam - both experts in practical conservation. Over 20 species of wildflowers will be planted from seeds of local origin to preserve the local gene pool. The planting project will be led by Dr Wendy Seel of the University's School of Biological Sciences who said: "We are aiming to establish a small, species-rich meadow that will be visually pleasing and which will provide an educational resource. At the same time it will provide a habitat for some of our local flowers, and a feeding station for insects, birds and bats."
Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice Principal and Chair of the University's Sustainable Development Committee will briefly welcome all volunteers and update on the University's other sustainable development and environmental improvement activities, before helping with the planting. Professor Houlihan said: "This initiative is an exciting and very practical part of our sustainability campaign. We all depend on the biodiversity of the planet and we all have some responsibility for it. This is a small, but important contribution which will allow us to turn this boring grassland into a rich gene pool - to provide beauty, a rich habitat for insects, a place for study and for leisure. We will learn from this small beginning and in time extend the ideas across the rest of campus."