Biodiversity is Buzzing on Campus

At the request of students, three beehives were installed at Campus East in spring 2022. Any student or staff member can book one of the hives free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

This provides a unique opportunity to keep bees and produce genuine AAU honey right here on campus. To book a beehive, please contact the Physical Study Environment Coordinator at fysiskstudiemiljoe@adm.aau.dk.

In addition to the beehives, several insect hotels have been installed across campus. These take the form of either purpose-built insect hotels or repurposed tree trunks and are designed to support and enhance biodiversity on campus.

A large drainage system is hidden beneath the main football pitch at Campus East.

The system collects rainwater in a 19-cubic-metre storage tank, providing a sustainable source of water for the gardening team. The harvested rainwater is used to irrigate community gardens, flower beds, and other planted areas across campus.

From the storage tank, the water is pumped into a mobile irrigation system, allowing the gardeners to efficiently water flower containers and planting beds throughout the campus while reducing the need for mains water.

Wild with Intent Evolves: Pick a Bouquet from the Farmer’s Wildflower Mix on Campus

At the start of the Wild with Intent project, the gardening team sowed a meadow seed mix designed for clay soil, as it was best suited to local conditions and expected to compete effectively with grass, which can be a significant challenge in establishing wildflower areas.

Since then, the areas have been reseeded with the Farmer’s Wildflower Mix, while many seeds from the original meadow mix remain in the soil. The new wildflower mix has been a great success, creating colourful displays that attract pollinators and enhance biodiversity across campus.

The flowers have become so popular that many students and staff have picked bouquets to take home, something the gardening team actively encourages.

AAU Flowers Get Many Lives

The plants in our flower containers are perennials, meaning they return year after year. When the gardening team refreshes the containers, the existing plants are not discarded. Instead, they are relocated and given a new home in newly established flower beds around campus.

When the seasonal planting changes to summer flowers around May, the “old” plants are reused to create new planting areas, giving them a second life while reducing waste and supporting a sustainable campus environment.