UWE Glenside Green Campus map

The Student Union and Green team

Committed to a  sustainable world , the Students’ Union at UWE has been awarded excellent in the NUS SOS-UK Green Impact program and its  Green team  of student supporters works on climate action, campaigns, socials and more.

New Community garden

This peaceful space is for students and staff to come and learn about sustainable gardening techniques, with  Permaculture elements . Come to one of our regular gardening sessions or simply relax with a cup of tea. Email  sustainability@uwe.ac.uk  for info. 

Traditional orchard

This small orchard is made up of native trees such as apple and pear. It is managed using chemical free pesticides and is great for bees and other pollinating insects. And the fruit is for you to pick. A pond is planned in the near future!  

Gingko tree - living fossil

Native to China, the  Gingko tree  is the oldest tree in the world, older than the dinosaurs from 245 million years ago. Ginkgo has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The leaves were used to treat brain, circulatory and respiratory  problems and the nuts were used for cough, fever, diarrhea, toothaches. Modern day research shows  mixed results .

Horse Chestnut tree

The  name of the tree  comes from the shape of the scar on the tree when the leaf stalk breaks away in Autumn which looks like the shape of a horseshoe, complete with nail holes! Before modern veterinary medicines, conkers used to be ground and fed to horses to treat  coughs. Crushing the conkers releases chemicals which are beneficial for horses but poisonous for other smaller animals.

Yew tree

The yew tree is a long lived native evergreen tree, the oldest one in the UK being over 2000 years old. The trees were held sacred by the Druids in pre-Christian times and are often found in churchyards. Nowadays its leaves are used to make  tamoxifen  a common treatment for breast cancer.

Indian Bean tree

This  showy tree  comes from North America. It has large floppy leaves up to 25cm long and 15cm wide, midsummer white flowers, followed by thin, green, bean-like pods (which turn brown) up to 40cm long, which contain seeds and not beans! 

Corsican Pine tree

This evergreen tree species is a member of the black (nigra) pine family and is used for timber, for turpentine, (manufactured from the leaves and resin), for paint thinners and solvents; and for medicines eg as antiseptics, for respiratory ailments, and joint rub. For musicians with stringed instruments, the resin, tapped from the trunk and sold in a block known as 'rosin', is put on the horsehair of the bow where is creates friction with the instrument's strings, causing them to vibrate and make a sound. 

Blackberry centre

Our Optometry and Clinical skills centre has been  sustainably refurbished  and includes the addition of an air-source heat pump to provide zero-carbon heating. 

Draft proofing 

Opened in 1861 Glenside is an old building which needs special care. We have saved energy by draft proofing of all windows (ensuring in line with listed building requirements) including all student accommodation, making it warmer and more planet friendly.  

Solar panels

There are solar panels on top of the Old Laundry which are regularly maintained and cleaned to ensure that they are providing best performance. UWE aims to add more photovoltaic (solar panel) arrays and a feasibility study has been undertaken at Frenchay Campus to identify the best roofs for further installations. More info  here .

The Hub Café

Try our delicious plant-based food options in our cafes and the SU bar: good for you and  good for the planet . See what more we are doing to increase your choice of in terms of  sustainable food  at UWE.

Fairtrade

UWE is a Fairtrade University and Fairtrade products are available for you to buy in all our shops, bars and cafes. Nearly 70% of our coffee is fairly trade so you can make a difference to the poorest farmers across the globe every time you buy a cup!  

5 * Insect hotel 

Made with recycled materials, this  wildlife hotel  for insects has been made by our Grounds team. Although decaying it still contains different habitats and is ideal for wildlife where they can hibernate, breed and take cover.  

Reuse and recycling

A place to recycle your unwanted items, the big red British Heart Foundation donation bank takes most things and is particularly useful for students moving out of accommodation at the end of the academic year - watch out for the annual  Bristol Big Give  campaign run from April to June. 

Outdoor gym and frisbee golf 

Get active and enjoy green space on campus using our outdoor gym trail and frisbee golf course. Join our Ultimate  Frisbee club !

Meadowlands

In 2020 UWE declared a climate and ecological emergency. One of the ways we are  supporting biodiversity  is through meadowscaping areas of grass - mown only two or three times a year, which will not only benefit wildlife but bring nature closer to people.  

Vois, bikes, repairs, pump 

With a Voi electric scooter drop off point nearby, one of our bike parks with a repair kit and pump are available here. For details of our Student Union bike loan scheme, free bike check ups at Glenside campus and more click  here .

Perfect nature spot 

Glenside campus has lots of perfect areas for relaxing, socialising or just taking a bit of peace and space. This inner courtyard is full of beautiful trees and just the place to take a break.