More wildflowers for campus

This month, the Grounds Team have installed over 100m2 of native flower wildflower turf within the heart of campus. This will help to provide both habitat and food for pollinators as well as a wildlife link connecting habitats across campus. Additionally, Lancaster also took part in the global Campus Nature Challenge, where participants recorded plant species found on campus in the iNaturalist app. Lancaster came 15th in the world, which showcases the variety of biodiversity on campus.

Lancaster wins climate action award

Lancaster University has been recognised for its sustainability efforts, receiving a 2025 Green Gown Award in the “2030 Climate Action” category. The award celebrates the University’s commitment to achieving carbon net zero from energy emissions by 2030, and its sector-leading approach to decarbonising its operations while embedding this ethos across the Lancaster campus.

Library signs up to the Green Libraries Manifesto

The Library has become a signatory of the Green Libraries Manifesto. The Manifesto is the primary sustainability commitment for libraries in the UK and involves pledges bringing environmental sustainability to the heart of decision making. It supports young people and works in partnership with communities. Becoming a signatory forms part of the Library’s strategy and their ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Stitching success

Students from Bowland, Graduate, Pendle, Grizedale and County Colleges came together for a vibrant sewing café session that celebrated creativity and sustainability. Using leftover fabric, participants explored sewing and patch-making techniques in a relaxed, screen-free environment. For two hours, students focused on crafting - with one student completing a wearable top by the end of the session!

Organised in partnership with the Lancaster Sewing Café, the event proved so popular that plans are underway for future crafting sessions. To help make this happen, donations of unwanted or spare sewing machines would be warmly welcomed. If you’re able to contribute, please get in touch with Tracy Hargreaves.

Tracking carbon emissions in Conferences and Hospitality

The Conferences and Hospitality Team at Lancaster are officially certified by the ECOsmart Sustainability Accreditation System, which helps hotels and event venues understand and reduce their environmental impact in ways tailored to the hospitality industry. As part of this certification, they use the EVENTsmart system to automatically calculate the carbon emissions of each conference or event. This system uses Lancaster University’s specific energy and carbon data, making emissions information instantly available to event organisers.

Thanks to progress made through the net zero project, conferences held in 2025–26 are expected to produce 25% fewer emissions compared to those held in 2024–25.

Got a sustainability story?

The University’s Sustainability team want to hear more from anyone who is working to advance sustainability in any way across Lancaster University, no matter how big or small.

Send your stories, suggestions, ideas and feedback to sustainability@lancaster.ac.uk.