Sustainability

Wild Peffermill

We're turning the University's playing fields at Peffermill into a wildlife haven, and you're invited to be part of it.

Student athletes with a wheelbarrow at Peffermill Playing Fields with Arthurs Seat in the background
Student athletes celebrating the launch of Wild Peffermill by planting trees.

What's happening: 

In 2024 the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability will be working with Sport & Exercise to support nature and biodiversity at Peffermill playing fields, setting the stage for our Wild Campus vision.

A habitat makeover

We're identifying spots to protect, enhance, restore, and even create new natural habitats. Our grounds maintenance team are adopting new practices that will make Peffermill a nature-friendly zone. Over the next year we’ve committed to: 

  • Over 8,000m2 non-pitch amenity grassland areas will be transformed into wildflower meadows and grasslands in 2024.  

  • Enhance the woodland to develop understorey habitat (trees and shrubs growing between the canopy and the forest floor).
  • Enhance our hedgerows by allowing them to grow bushier and produce flowers and fruits.
  • Enhance the habitat along the Braid Burn by managing invasive non-native species and planting native Alder trees along the bank.

In March 2024, student athletes and Sport & Exercise staff gathered for a special "Big Dig" event to launch Wild Peffermill.

Wild Peffermill: Sowing the seeds for a nature positive future

Join the fun

We're not doing this alone! We want you – our community of staff and students – to get involved and enjoy the benefits of learning about the nature at Peffermill and across the rest of our campus.

If you want to get involved with volunteering at Wild Peffermill, get in touch via the link below. We'll connect you with societies and planned events so that you can play a role this exciting project.

Find out more and get involved