University Meadows in the Making project featured in new NatureScot ‘Nature Positive’ video series
The University of St Andrews’ pioneering approach to grassland management has been featured in a new NatureScot video series on Nature Positive Amenity Grassland Management, now available on YouTube and set to become part of a national online training course run by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).
Watch the video series here: Nature Positive Amenity Grassland Management – YouTube
The short film highlights how the University is transforming its estate to promote biodiversity and support Scotland’s transition to nature-positive land management. St Andrews’ inclusion in the series recognises the University’s leadership in sustainable greenspace management and its role in demonstrating practical, scalable ways to restore wildlife-rich habitats across campuses and communities.
The partnership with NatureScot builds on the University’s growing reputation for leadership in biodiversity and restoration (we’re a Green Gown Award finalist 2025 for the Nature Positive category!). In 2023, NatureScot invited St Andrews to host a Nature Restoration Skills Conference, inspired by the success of the University’s Meadows in the Making project.
Following that event, NatureScot expressed enthusiasm for the University’s innovative approach – particularly its hands-on student involvement in transforming campus greenspaces – and asked St Andrews to contribute to a new online learning package of videos on Nature Positive Amenity Grassland Management.
NatureScot commissioned the videographer for the project, providing the University with an excellent opportunity to showcase its sustainable land management work while involving student volunteers in the filming process. The collaboration has now resulted in the release of the University’s featured video, which can be freely used for promoting grassland and biodiversity initiatives across campus.
Meadows in the Making was a one-year project funded by the Biodiversity Challenge Fund in 2021/22, and really helped the University make a step change towards more sustainable land management. Since then work continues to ensure the grasslands develop into rich habitats, through appropriate management by the Grounds team with guidance from the Environment Team. The University aims to transform more than 60% of the University’s managed land for biodiversity by 2035, creating wildflower meadows, woodlands, raingardens and hedgerows across St Andrews and Guardbridge.
The project established over 5 hectares of meadow, 0.76 hectares of woodland, and 2,600 metres of new hedgerow, creating and connecting key habitats such as Eden Forest and a green corridor from St Andrews to Guardbridge. These changes are already enhancing biodiversity, improving habitat connectivity, and supporting wildlife recovery. It was followed by another ambitious 18 month programme of habitat creation works funded by Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund between 2023-2025. This project even welcomed a herd of Highland cattle, taking the grassland management a step further to conservation grazing!
Beyond ecological gains, these projects contribute to climate resilience and wellbeing, providing ecosystem services such as pollination, flood alleviation, pollution filtration, and high-quality green spaces for the community. It also complements Fife Council’s sustainable grassland management strategy, aligning local land-use change with Scotland’s wider climate and biodiversity goals.
The University’s biodiversity initiatives offer rich opportunities for staff, students, and local residents to participate in activities such as tree planting, hay raking, seed gathering, wildlife surveys, training sessions, and community events.
Those interested in getting involved can find more information and upcoming activities via Biodiversity – Sustainability – University of St Andrews or by emailing [email protected].
Meadows in the Making was led by the University of St Andrews, in partnership with the St Andrews Botanic Garden, Fife Council, Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, and Crail Community Partnership, and supported by the NatureScot Biodiversity Challenge Fund.