At a well-attended Yare Valley AGM, following the business matters, Tom Everett, the UEA Landscape Manager, gave a talk explaining how the Ecology of the UEA was being managed.
The large number of questions from the audience revealed the interest there was in what he had to say. A sign of how managing the ecology had changed, was his own career progression at UEA. From an early job on a tractor close mowing the Campus grass areas, to now overseeing, as Landscape Manger, the same areas being transformed, with the help of volunteers, to wildflower meadows. It demonstrated how the UEA management of the Campus has been evolving in line with the increasing concerns of biodiversity decline. He also made the important point that, for biodiversity to improve, some of our green space needs to be protected from human and dog intrusion. This was well illustrated by the increase in wildlife, such as of water voles, that were observed to occur after a section of duplicated riverside path was closed. The university campus is on both sides of the river, and forms a significant section of the Yare Valley Green Infrastructure Corridor. It was re-assuring to hear of the efforts being made to improve the ecology of the campus. Walking trails on campus enable you to see what is being achieved.
