Spine photography exhibit

Take time to enjoy nature

Spending time in nature has many health and wellbeing benefits such as lowering stress levels and improving mental health and cognitive performance.

The Lancaster Campus is located on a beautiful 578-acre parkland site and contains more than 25,000 trees, 6.5 miles worth of hedgerows, expansive wildflower areas and Lake Carter. Our teaching partnerships overseas also offer opportunities to connect with nature, even in their bustling city locations. We are delighted to share a selection of the variety of wildlife that call Lancaster University, and our partners, home.

This exhibition has been co-created with staff and students to showcase the wonderful wildlife that can be seen here at Lancaster and at our partnerships overseas. Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs.

Thanks also to our academic experts in ecology, environmental politics and policy, and digital media who helped to curate the exhibition: Professor Phil Barker, Dr Celine Germond-Duret and Dr Nathan Allen Jones.

Butterfly dragonfly by Professor Xiao Guiping: Image shows dragonfly landed on a pink flower

Butterfly dragonfly (Rhyothemis fuglinosa)

Professor Xiao Guiping, Vice Campus President of Beijing Jiaotong University, Weihai Campus and Vice Dean responsible for academic affairs

Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University (LUCBJTU) Weihai, China

This photograph was taken along the Perfume Riverside, about 1km from the Weihai campus. These types of dragonfly and lotus flowers are commonly found in this local habitat, including within the LUCBJTU Weihai campus.

Blue tit by Daniel McIntosh: Photo shows a blue tit sat on a branch

Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Daniel McIntosh, Post Award Team Leader, Research and Enterprise Services

Galgate, Lancaster

The birdlife on and around our Lancaster Campus isn’t limited to just ducks – you’ll see many other species flying around. The blue tit is common across Europe in gardens and woodlands and is easily identified by its striking yellow chest and bright blue plumage.

Monitor lizard by Anne Davis: Image shows a monitor lizard in water near Sunway University, Malaysia

Monitor lizard (Varanus salvator)

Anne Davis, Global Experiences Assistant (Study Abroad)

Botanical Gardens near Sunway University Lancaster University, Malaysia

Monitor lizards can grow up to 3 metres long and 25 kilograms in weight and are usually found living along riverbanks and in swamps but can also be seen in more urban areas. They can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes and are agile tree climbers.

Rabbit by Emily Parrott: Image shows brown rabbit in the grass on campus

Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Emily Parrott, International Law and Diplomacy MA

Lonsdale College, Lancaster Campus

Commonly spotted in areas of grassland and woodland, rabbits live in underground burrow systems called ‘warrens’. Not to be confused with its larger relative, the brown hare, rabbits are grey-brown in colour with long hind legs and ears and a fluffy white tail.

Oyster catchers by Saffron Leathem: Image shows oyster catchers at Morecambe Bay

Oyster catchers (Haemotopus ostralegus)

Saffron Leathem, Fine Art BA Hons

Morecambe Bay, Lancashire

Instantly recognisable with their bright orange bills, pink legs, striking white wing stripe and black tail, these coastal wading birds love eating the cockles found in Morecambe Bay.

Speckled yellow moth by Hannah Risser: Image shows Speckled yellow moth on a green leaf

Speckled yellow moth (Pseudopanthera macularia)

Hannah Risser, Environmental Science PhD

Warton Crag Nature Reserve, Lancashire

This day-flying moth is commonly found in or near woodland. Found during an undergraduate field biology course, this moth helped to convince students that moths are just as fascinating and beautiful as butterflies.

Duckling by Christine Armstrong: image shows duckling walking at Bonington Steps, Lancaster Campus

Duckling (Anas platyrhynchos)

Christine Armstrong, Undergraduate Programmes Coordinator, Lancaster Medical School

Bonington Steps, Lancaster Campus

An exhibition showcasing the wildlife around Lancaster University wouldn’t be complete without our resident ducks, and springtime brings new members to the family. The Bonington Steps provide the perfect viewing experience of them enjoying their favourite pond.

Otter by Jess Shaw: Image shows Otter in Lake Carter with mouth wide open

Otter (Lutra lutra)

Jess Shaw, Public Engagement Manager

Lake Carter, Lancaster Campus

Some of you may have been lucky enough to spot the family of otters that visited Lake Carter - look closely at this photo and you’ll see the fish that the otter is munching on! Otters are notoriously elusive and rare and they’re protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), so it was a real treat to spot them in our lake. Keep your eyes peeled in case they return.

Bee by Amy Heaton: image shows bee on a yellow dandelion

Bee (Apis mellifera)

Amy Heaton, Environmental Management MSc

County College, Lancaster Campus

We have 15 hives on campus that have produced 114kg (250lbs) of honey since they started in 2024. You can buy the honey at ReStore. Bees are a hugely important part of the ecosystem and researchers here at Lancaster have developed the ‘BeeBox’ to help provide nesting sites for wild bees.

Salmon by Konrad Kurowski: Image shows salmon jumping below Skerton Weir, river Lune

Salmon (Salmo salar)

Konrad Kurowski, Facilities Coordinator

River Lune, Lancashire

The River Lune is a defining feature of Lancaster and the local area, and there are many ways to enjoy its beauty and wildlife: from one of the many bridges, along the cycle path or even standing in it, like Konrad did to get this photo of a salmon jumping below Skerton Weir. The Lune is renowned as one of England’s top fishing rivers, particularly for native brown trout and salmon, which enter the system in August. Due to declining numbers, a catch and release policy is enforced.

Dipper by Daniel McIntosh: Image shoiws Dipper bird at River Lune

Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

Daniel McIntosh, Post Award Team Leader, Research and Enterprise Services

River Lune, Lancashire

Named due to the distinctive way they bob up and down on rocks and in water to look for food, dippers are often seen by freshwater streams and rivers. They do occasionally visit coastal areas too, making the Lancaster area a perfect home for them.

Grey squirrel by Emily Parrott: Image shows squirrel climbing a tree trunk looking at the camera

Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Emily Parrott, International Law and Diplomacy MA

Woodland Walk, Lancaster Campus

You’ll often see squirrels around the Lancaster Campus, especially on the Woodland Walk in amongst the trees. High up in the tree canopy, you might spot a ‘drey’, the nests that they make out of twigs, leaves and bark in the fork of a branch.

Greylag gosling by Christine Armstrong: Image shows a gosling with a yellow flower in beak

Greylag gosling (Anser anser)

Christine Armstrong, Undergraduate Programmes Coordinator, Lancaster Medical School

Lake Carter, Lancaster Campus

This image is of one of the family of five goslings that Christine captured and described as “an absolute delight to watch.” The greylag goose can be territorial when nesting, but they do become more sociable once the chicks have hatched, hence why you may have seen this family out and about on campus.

Red admiral butterfly by Leonardo de Sousa Miranda: Red admiral butterfly landed on purple flowers

Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

Leonardo de Sousa Miranda, Senior Research Associate, Lancaster Environment Centre

Quad Garden in Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster Campus

Red admiral butterflies have distinctive black and red wings and are often found on flowering buddleias (nicknamed the ‘butterfly bush’) like the one in this photo. Most red admirals migrate to the UK from continental Europe and North Africa in spring and early summer, flying south again in the autumn.

Mallard duck by Amy Heaton: Image shows a mallard at Fylde duck pond

Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Amy Heaton, Environmental Management MSc

Fylde duck pond, Lancaster Campus

The most abundant species of duck in the UK and found in abundance at our Lancaster Campus! Mallard ducks are also known as ‘dabbling’ ducks due to the way they ‘upend’ in shallow waters to feed.

Barn owl by Konrad Kurowski: Image shows barn owl in flight near the River Lune

Barn owl (Tyto alba)

Konrad Kurowski, Facilities Coordinator

River Lune, Lancashire

Nocturnal animals are hard enough to see - never mind photograph - so to include this beautiful and much-loved bird, photographed down by the River Lune, in this display is a real treat. Their sensitive hearing and ability to spot movement in very low light help these birds of prey hunt and catch small mammals such as voles and mice.

Hedgehog by John Ray: Image shows hedgehog in the leaves

Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

John Ray, Theoretical Physics BSc

Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts, Lancaster Campus

Hedgehogs are classified as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and face ongoing threats such as habitat loss and increased traffic. To help prevent their decline and protect the hedgehogs that call our Lancaster Campus home, we have two special hedgehog crossings, camera traps to help monitor them and many plants across the campus that help support them.

Whooper swans by Pan Yue: image shows whooper swans at Cherry Lake near Lancaster University College

Whooper swans, Eurasian coots & common pochards

Pan Yue, Vice Director of the Office of Teaching Development and International Affairs

Cherry Lake near Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University (LUCBJTU), Weihai, China

The whooper swan and common pochard migrate from Siberia to spend the winter in Weihai, where they can be seen in large numbers along the coast within 5km of the Weihai campus and at nearby lakes. The Eurasian coot is a resident species in Weihai and can frequently be observed in rivers both on and near LUCBJTU Weihai campus throughout the year.

Got an idea for the next exhibition? 

Staff and students are welcome to get involved and curate new images for future exhibits, which will be updated twice a year.    

If you have an idea for a future exhibition which would appeal to all students and staff at Lancaster, please send an email to marketing-office@lancaster.ac.uk by 30 September 2024.   

Previous spine photography exhibits