Access to Studland House

Studland_HouseEnergy providers SSE today started unannounced works on the pathway and road in front of Studland House.

The Estates Team has been assured that pedestrians will be able to safely enter and exit the main entrance of the building. Drivers will be able to gain access to the underground car park, but there may be short delays while the contractor facilitates access.

It is likely that the works will continue into next week, but further details will be provided when known.

If you have any queries in the meantime please contact Steve Jones.

Poole House & Studland House Lifts

TalbotWorks to modernise the lifts in Poole House and Studland House have started and will continue into the start of 2016.

Work will be carried out to one lift in each building at a time, with the second lift remaining operational throughout the project.

Due to on-going health and safety issues, the Poole House left hand lift will remain out of service until refurbishment works are complete.

Both lifts will be fully functioning in Poole House and Studland House by 15 January and 12 February respectively.

These refurbishments will significantly improve the serviceability levels of these lifts, but when the works are taking place, please take the stairs whenever possible to minimise waiting times and to allow for those who have a greater need for a lift.

If you would like further information regarding this project please contact the Estates Services Manager Rick White on 012029 62481.

We are Celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity

biological-diversityEvery year on 22 May the World celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity.

As a fairly urban campus it might seem like we don’t have a lot of biological diversity but you’d be wrong! Make sure you check out the Biodiversity on Campus displays in the Atrium and Studland House Café on Friday 22 May!

Within just 5km of Talbot Campus we have 7 sites designated for Wildlife Conservation Interest, including; Dorset Heathlands, Bourne Valley, Turbary and Kinson Commons and Talbot Slopes & Cuttings.

18 protected and notable species were identified within a 10km radius of Talbot Campus, meaning that they may occasionally be present on campus if there is suitable habitat available. These include; Badgers, Bats, snakes, slow worms, and lizards. Plus there are many species of beetle, insect and bees to be found on campus.

There are over 25 species of tree and ornamental plants, including; Field Maples, Common Lime, English Oak, Sycamore, Wall Speedwell, Bluebell, Whitebeam, Rowan, Soft Brome, Barron Brome, False Brome, and many more.

As the estate develops The University and the Estates Team are committed to improving the external environment on campus, including biodiversity. Specific measures for building works so far include;

  • Commitment to environmental performance – all major construction projects are required to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and as part of this assessment we must address the impact of construction on ecology and biodiversity. For the Student Centre and the New Academic Building projects the University has worked with ecologists, landscape architects and academics from SciTech to develop landscape proposals which enhance the ecological value of these sites. Examples of this include the provision of bird boxes and green roofs with sedum planting specifically selected to benefit local wildlife.
  • As part of the New Academic Building project the University will also be introducing local heathland planting on campus.
  • The development of an ‘Open Spaces Strategy’ which aims to improve the holistic quality of the external environment, including soft landscaping, street furniture and the use of space.
  • All works on campus are required to comply with BU’s environmental and biodiversity policies

The University will shortly be conducting a full ecological assessment of the estate and will produce a gap analysis of all ecological assessments previously carried out. Additional ecological assessments will then be carried out to develop a full picture of the whole estate.

A Biodiversity Action Plan will then be created with a view to enhancing biodiversity on campus, setting Key Performance Indicators, and creating a robust monitoring schedule.

For more information about biodiversity at BU please contact the Sustainability Team via sustainability@bournemouth.ac.uk or if you’d like to join the SUBU Green Taskforce e-mail SUPresident@bournemouth.ac.uk for more info.

Timetabling and bus information at Lansdowne

bu-logoStudents on the Lansdowne Campus can now find timetabling information as well as the latest bus information on the large TV screens in Royal London House, Studland House and Bournemouth House.

The screens change every minute, so whether you’re looking to check what room you’re in – or what time the next bus is – the information you need will always be readily available.