PAGE 02 - MAIN FEATURE BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS When we hear the word “sustainability”, what does it actually mean to most of us - probably not much! But to Nick Bowen, from Ian White Associates, the landscape architects responsible for designing the grounds around <strong>QM</strong>UC's new campus at Craighall, East Lothian, it means a great deal. Nick has responsibility for ensuring that the grounds in the new campus development fit with <strong>QM</strong>UC's vision for the project - to “develop a sustainable community for learning and life”. Nick explains: “Sustainability is all about minimising the impacts that development will have on the environment, and maximising the potential environmental gain. For instance, designing buildings which utilise natural light and ventilation decreases their requirement for electricity, whilst creative solutions to site drainage can also result in creation of ecologically valuable wetland.” When the decision was made to move to East Lothian, students, staff and the local community were consulted to find out what was important to them and what they would like to see incorporated into the design. The overwhelming request that came back was for “a green environment in which to live and work”. Building a sustainable campus impacts on every aspect of design and construction. From the materials used, to the design of the buildings and the exterior landscape, everything must be considered from an environmental perspective. So what sort of things will Nick be incorporating into the landscape design? Well, in addition to providing homes for about 800 students, homes will be provided for a diverse variety of wildlife. A big part of creating an environmentally-friendly landscape is ensuring that as many opportunities as possible are created for local indigenous wildlife to share the site with people. Four of the most important types of lowland Scottish habitat - wetland, woodland, meadow and hedgerow - will be incorporated into the design. Woodland will provide screening from traffic noise and a green transport policy will ensure that the core of the campus will be a car-free zone, making it a haven from traffic congestion and pollution. Hedgerows and meadowland will provide additional habitats and will create buffer zones to separate human and wildlife traffic. As well as natural habitats created by clever landscape design, Nick has also made provision for a few other, man-made (but no less popular) homes to encourage some more unusual local residents to move in - pipistrellus pipistrellus, or the common pipistrelle as he is better known, is one local resident who will find he has fourstar accommodation ready and waiting - in the form of a number of strategically placed bat boxes! In fact both these and some of our feathery friends will find a range of ready-made roosting boxes available for immediate occupancy. Within the campus woodland planting will also be nesting opportunities for the likes of hedgehogs and insects, in log and brash piles. The wetland habitat to be created will be an environmentally-friendly addition to the site for a number of reasons. No ordinary pond, this will be part of a “sustainable urban drainage system” or SUDS for short. The pond will capture rainwater draining off roofs and paved areas, holding it back on site rather than contributing to downstream flooding. So, as well as providing a solution to the problem of excess surface water, there will be an attractive feature that will provide a pleasant spot which can be used for recreation, and will be an excellent habitat for wildlife. The provision of an area of decking and appropriate signage will ensure that there is an educational benefit to the pond. This will provide a facility where local schools can come to teach children about the environment and the wonderful range of creepy crawlies that inhabit the pond area - everything from the reclusive common newt to sparkly damselflies and chirping linnets and bullfinches. According to Nick, providing as wide a range of habitats as possible is important because it “helps to replace some of the local diversity which has been lost from our intensively farmed countryside, and gives the campus a further function besides accommodating the human activities to which it will be home”. So when <strong>QM</strong>UC moves to Craighall in 2007, there will be more than just students, staff and the local community sharing the campus. There will be a diverse range of plant and animal life too - <strong>QM</strong>UC really is “developing a sustainable community for learning and life”! Main picture: An example of a bat box Inset: Nick Bowen of Ian White Associates
“Sustainability is all about minimising the impacts that development will have on the environment, and maximising the potential environmental gain.” MAIN FEATURE - PAGE 03
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