New initiatives kickstart progress towards sustainable farming | Sustainability

If you use the cycle path between Roslin and Musselburgh, you might have noticed newly planted trees dotted across the fields just north of Roslin, almost hidden by tall tree guards. These fields are part of the University’s farmland, where recent habitat creation activities and ecological monitoring projects mark progress towards more sustainable farming practices.

It’s part of the University’s commitment to restore ecosystems across campus and beyond, as outlined in the new regenerative sustainability strategy.

Benefits for wildlife, livestock and people

The University’s Royal (Dick) Veterinary School manages 340 hectares of farmland for teaching and research, at Dryden and Langhill farms, and Easter Bush campus.

40 trees were planted earlier this month at Dryden farm by student and staff volunteers, as part of the Big Dig Active Lives programme. Made up of native broadleaves including willows, silver birch, rowan, small-leaved lime and hazel, the trees will offer new habitats and sources of food for wildlife on the farm. Separately, hedges have been planted at the sheep unit on Easter Bush campus, supporting small birds and mammals.

The trees will grow on land used for sheep grazing, and will provide shade and shelter for the livestock alongside additional food sources beyond grass. This is the first time that the University has planted trees within a grazing area, marking the start of our adoption of nature-friendly farming practices.

The new trees also support the local nature network by expanding the woodland canopy. A recent farmland bird count recorded 18 species of birds on Langhill farm. This diversity should increase as we develop more biodiverse habitats and adopt nature-friendly farming practices.

A group of people stand in a field with newly planted trees, holding spades and a wheelbarrow

The Big Dig has become a true highlight of my year — a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose. Over the past six years, we have planted more than 3,700 trees across 14 different species, helping to create a greener, healthier future for our community.

Big Dig activities are ongoing over the summer that any student or staff member can register for, including tree maintenance.

Towards nature-friendly farming

To make informed decisions to support nature, farm managers require adequate data about their soil conditions, carbon emissions, and local ecology. This year, the University of Edinburgh has become a member of the Farming for Carbon and Nature programme, coordinated by Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS UK).

Farming for Carbon and Nature (SOS UK)

With universities and colleges in the UK collectively owning 35,000 hectares of farmland, the programme aims to support university and college-owned farms to adopt more nature and climate-friendly farming practices, helping transition to regenerative farming. This will help reduce carbon emissions across the sector, increase resilience of farmland to cope with rising extreme weather, improve soil health and biodiversity and provide fieldwork and skills development opportunities to students.

The University of Edinburgh is also the first institution in Scotland to be part of the programme’s Leadership Council for regenerative farming in the tertiary education sector. The Leadership Council aims to support universities and colleges to showcase their leadership in sustainable land management and promote knowledge-sharing and action across the sector.

From bird-spotting to soil sampling

At Edinburgh, student volunteers have already conducted baseline surveys measuring soil carbon as well as bird, and earthworm diversity. Insect and hedgerow surveys will take place in June this year. Taken alongside existing ecological baselining data, the survey results will offer a picture of the existing biodiversity on the farms and will inform future decision making on farming methods.

The 20 student and staff volunteers so far have gained various benefits from training delivered by SOS UK and citizen science fieldtrips, including:

a variety of technical and transferable green skills such as using soil sampling equipment, teamwork, attention to detail, problem solving and ecological literacy,

a mental health boost by learning in the outdoors while informing projects to protect and restore nature,

a unique behind-the-scenes of farming at the University and exposure to green spaces they have yet to visit.

We asked student volunteers what they enjoyed most about the experience:

“To have the opportunity to slow down and observe the birds, listening and try to identify them”

“Increasing my knowledge on the impact of climate change on local communities.”

“Being outside, reconnecting with nature and meeting like-minded people.”

[Counting earthworms in the soil] was “very therapeutic."

View our ecological data dashboard

Get involved

There are plenty of ways that students and staff at the University of Edinburgh can get involved in our sustainable farming initiatives, and wider campus volunteering.

Register to join our event on 22 June, where we’ll be showcasing the work being done on our farmland through the Farming for Carbon and Nature Programme.

Farming for Carbon and Nature: Get involved

Take part in Big Dig events

Staff and student volunteers helped complete fieldwork indicating biodiversity on the University's farmland.
Student volunteers examine soil sampled on the University's farm, as part of the SOS UK Farming for Carbon and Nature programme.

Publication date

05 May, 2026