22 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability Student Life
Sustainability lies at the very heart of Keele’s ethos. One of the University’s six strategic
aims is ‘to promote environmental sustainability in all that we do.’ For students on our
environmental programmes they not only learn about environmental and sustainability
issues but also live the experience, and have the opportunity to get involved in many
new and exciting environmental and sustainability initiatives on the
University campus and in local communities.
Sustainable Student Bungalow Veg box
In 2009 four students on the Environment and
Sustainability programme lobbied the university to be
able to turn a small property on the University campus
into an exemplar of sustainable student living. Every
year sees four new students linked to our environmental
programmes living in the bungalow, and leading new
initiatives such as food growing and communal cooking,
to live more sustainably and share this with the wider
student community. Inspired by initiatives seen on international visits to other
universities, students on our environmental programmes
set up a campus Veg Box scheme to increase the
provision of local and organic vegetables for staff and
students across the whole university.
Arboretum and biodiversity
Keele University sits within an impressive 617 acre
campus including extensive woodlands, and lake
systems, while also housing an impressive arboretum of
rare trees, including a National Cherry Tree Collection of
over 240 flowering cherries. For students interested in
natural history and wildlife there are many opportunities
to explore their hobby and interests in the grounds, or
take part in conservation work parties. On the campus
grounds many different species have been identified
including 137 birds, 160 trees, 250 flowers, 26 butterflies,
and 500 moth species!
Student Eats
In addition to food growing at the bungalow, Keele has an
allotment area of raised beds, part of which is managed
by a student-led organisation affiliated to the National
Union of Students, called Student Eats. Students
grow their own produce throughout the year, to use for
themselves and to sell to other students.
keele.ac.uk/gge
Green volunteering
There are many opportunities for students to gain
valuable environment and sustainability-related work
experience through volunteering on a wide range of
different projects.
These include the University’s annual Green Week,
auditing various University sustainability schemes,
volunteering on conservation projects, or helping with
our environmental education work in schools. Many
of our student volunteers, have gone on to get paid
work within the university based on their volunteering
experience, or have secured jobs externally as a result of
this experience.
Clubs and societies
There are plenty of clubs and societies you can join,
including sports teams, the Keele Acapella Society, the
International Society and Keele Mountaineering Club, and
if you can’t find a society for you, you can start your very
own! Within the School of Geography, Geology and the
Environment, we have the Keele University Geo Society
(KUGS) – a society for anyone who enjoys anything geo-
related. Over the year they run social events, academic
trips and host the popular Annual Winter Ball. KUGS
allows students to create enjoyable and lasting memories
at Keele University, alongside their academic studies.