Green Wellbeing

As part of our commitment to tackling the global ecological crisis, the University has pledged to protect wildlife and prevent nature loss by 2030. Over the past five years, Active Lives has led the delivery of Green Wellbeing events at the university, ensuring that Edinburgh Sport plays its part in protecting and enhancing our green spaces.

As part of our commitment to tackling the global ecological crisis, the University has pledged to protect wildlife and prevent nature loss by 2030. Over the past five years, Active Lives has led the delivery of Green Wellbeing events at the university, ensuring that Edinburgh Sport plays its part in protecting and enhancing our green spaces.


In partnership with the Woodland Trust, our Big Dig tree-planting programme has already seen more than 4,000 trees planted. 

Through this initiative, we aim to create a thriving green space at the heart of the community - a place to walk, relax, and connect with nature. Trees not only provide vital habitats for countless species but also offer beauty, calm, and wellbeing for everyone to share.


Each year, the Big Dig makes these spaces more special. Volunteers from across the University come together with shovels, saplings, and big smiles to plant trees that will grow for generations to come. 


I attended the tree maintenance event yesterday at Easter bush, it was revitalising, great to be outdoors, gives you a boost of positivity being at one with nature. An experience which certainly benefits your mental health and well-being, highly recommended. - Tree Collar Removal Participant
 

We organise tree and bulb planting, tree maintenance and campus litter picks. If you would like to get involved in our efforts to safeguard and improve our green spaces.

Of course, nature connection activities alone cannot remove the realities of upcoming exams, looming deadlines, or the financial struggles that affect students at the University of Edinburgh. What it can offer is the opportunity to subvert students’ fast paced routines, relieve anxiety, remind them of their interconnectedness with other living beings, and help putting things into perspective. - A quote from Switching off and slowing down: A pilot study on Green Wellbeing for postgraduate students, The University of Edinburgh