The University of Stirling are finalists in the prestigious 2026 UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards in the Nature Positive category, for outstanding campus biodiversity.
The Green Gown Awards have celebrated outstanding sustainability work in universities and colleges across the UK since 2004 and represent one of the most prestigious recognitions for sustainability practice in education.
The ‘Nature Positive’ category, in which The University of Stirling has been shortlisted, champions the institutions “taking action to promote nature on their campuses, in their operations and teaching and research as well as working in partnership with their local communities.”
The University of Stirling is among ten finalists in the Nature Positive category, only three of which are based in Scotland. SRUC and Robert Gordon University have also been shortlisted.
Stirling University has been recognised for their Campus Biodiversity Project, a key delivery programme within the University’s Sustainability Plan 2022-2028. The project has delivered biodiversity enhancement, community engagement and education, and habitat creation activities.
A key element of the project is the recent development of a new Campus Biodiversity Strategy, which sets out a long-term vision for enhancing and protecting biodiversity across the University campus. Biodiversity awareness events and consultation activities were held to engage students and staff in shaping the strategy and its objectives, which continue to be finalised.
The Green Gown shortlisting also recognises the Art of Nature trail, developed with the Art Collections Team, BES Department and Students’ Union. The project involved the installations of signs, intended to inform people about surrounding artworks and biodiversity, connecting people to the landscape.
The Green & Blue Space programme, run by Stirling Students’ Union, has played a key role in sustainability efforts at the university, engaging hundreds of students in permaculture practices. Additionally, the Green & Blue Space has been involved in tree planting, citizen science, biodiversity awareness, Stirling Climate Festival, bird box construction, and a habitat creation initiative, alongside daily sustainability practices, workshops, and events.
Gabi Brame works with the Union’s Green and Blue Space as Sustainability Development Coordinator. His role involves insuring the Union follows and develops environmental best practice, engaging students and staff with sustainability, and working alongside the University to achieve net zero.
On the announcement, he said:
“We’re absolutely chuffed to see all our hard work to preserve and enhance our state of biodiversity on campus being recognised through prestigious Green Gown Awards. Being named a finalist in the Nature Positive category energises us at the Green & Blue Space to keep progressing our efforts in this area and continue our partnership work with the University to scale our impact further!”
The winners of the 2026 UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards will be announced on 16 November.
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