Wild Peffermill shortlisted for Sustainability in Scottish Sport Award

Launched in 2024 as a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh Sport and the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, the Wild Peffermill initiative aims to restore and enhance natural habitats across the 27-acre Peffermill sports fields and is part of the University’s wider "Wild Campus" vision.

This long-term project addresses the crucial need to conserve and restore wildlife across the University’s diverse estate: with global wildlife populations having dropped by 69% since 1970. Beginning with Wild Peffermill, the University has started work to adopt nature-friendly practices with the aim to create havens for wildlife, while also enhancing the student, staff, and community experience. 

Hailed as some of Scotland's best sports pitches, Peffermill includes native woodlands, hedgerows, and two natural burns, home to wildlife like otters, hedgehogs, birds, and bats. The Wild Peffermill project will focus on transforming non-pitch areas into diverse habitats—beginning with 8,000 square meters of wildflower meadows and grassland. The University’s commitment also includes enriching hedgerows, creating more robust woodland understorey, and managing the Braid Burn’s banks by planting native Alder trees and controlling invasive species. 

The launch of Wild Peffermill was marked on 3 March, World Wildlife Day, with a tree-planting event involving student athletes and staff from eight sports teams. Over 100 trees were planted, building on the University’s successful Big Dig initiative, which has seen over 2,000 trees planted across campuses over the last four years. These trees will create a natural sanctuary, providing homes for wildlife and benefits like shade and shelter for students and staff for years to come.

Though still in its early stages, Wild Peffermill represents an exciting step on the journey to restore nature across the University campus. As a model for how sports venues can tackle climate and biodiversity crises, the progress at Peffermill will hopefully inspire other institutions to adopt sustainable practices, paving the way toward a greener future for sport and nature alike.