Students
Just some of the ways that students can get involved with sustainability and make a difference at Lancaster University.
ECOChallenge
Each year Green Lancaster host a competition between all nine colleges to come up with new and innovative projects that can improve sustainability on campus. The winning team will receive a £500 pot to split between the team and the runner-up team will receive £250 to split.
ECOChallengeStudent societies
Lancaster's Students' Union supports societies that offer a wide range of ways for our students to get involved with environmental sustainability on a practical level.
From helping to grow vegetables on our allotment, to fundraising for charities, to looking after the chickens at the ECOHub. It’s a great way to make friends and socialise too.
SocietiesStudent volunteers
Whether you have a love for food and gardening, recycling, or cycling, there are many ways to get involved with environmental projects and sustainability on campus.
Green LancasterSustainable Projects
Edible Campus
Help to plant fruit and vegetables or look after some rescued chickens at the Green Lancaster ECOHub, which is a secluded 4000m2 nature-based garden on campus. Edible Campus, the team behind the running of the crop planning and organic garden on-site, have been growing a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables for many years. Produce from the ECOHub is sold at the Students’ Union supermarket “Central” and the volunteers have also coordinated a “veggie box” scheme for students, staff and the local community
ECOWoods
Formerly known as Forest of the Future, the project has grown to have a significant following of student volunteers who help maintain the natural landscape across campus and at Forrest Hills nearby. Volunteer staff and students have planted more than 4000 trees over the last 3 years to help build sustainable habitats and promote wildlife.
ECOWild
The Green Lancaster team run field trips regularly throughout the year giving students the opportunity to get hands-on experience and learn about innovative natural solutions to the Climate and Ecological Emergency. You might be doing beach cleans in Morecambe Bay, restoring biodiversity and wildlife in the Yorkshire Dales or helping to plant trees in the Lake District.
“Our ECOWild field trips provide a great experience and privilege to interact with nature.” - Darren Axe, Green Lancaster.
Don't Ditch It
The Don't Ditch It initiative is one of the longest-running and most widely recognised initiatives that students can get involved with. It's a household goods upcycling project that has long-established relationships with over 50 local and national charities. The project gives back to the community and reduces waste on campus every year.
“This is an invaluable project, diverting over 40 tonnes of unwanted household items from landfill each year to create a circular economy at Lancaster University" - Naomi Young, Green Lancaster.
Big Bike Sale and ECOShop
In September 2022 and January 2023, we held our ECOShop and Big Bike Sale in the centre of campus. Using products that were donated through Green Lancaster's Don't Ditch It project, the ECOShop re-sells these items in order to fund its operations across campus. The Big Bike Sale is also a great opportunity to grab a refurbished bike at discounted prices and help the environment by cycling between campus and the city.