Loughborough University
BUCs to Branches
Finalist, Nature Positive
Finalist, Student Engagement
About
|
BUCS to Branches turns Loughborough University’s sporting success into measurable nature recovery. Developed in response to a challenge from the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport to find innovative, cost-effective ways to engage students with the nature crisis, the initiative links BUCS performance directly to tree planting. The project has already delivered 10,100 verified trees through Veritree, restoring approximately 1 hectare and creating an estimated 2,565 tCO₂e of sequestration at maturity. It also provides biodiversity, habitat, employment and community benefits through UK urban restoration and East African mangrove restoration. In year one, the model planted trees against BUCS performance. In year two, the ambition has increased significantly and is on course to plant over 9,000 trees in through BUCS performance, alongside additional planting linked to trophy wins and the Climate Cup. |
Top three learnings
|
1. Don’t ask people to do more; connect sustainability to existing passions. |
|
2. Low-cost projects can deliver high impact when the model is simple. |
|
3. The right partner turns good intentions into credible, verified action. |
SDGs
15- Life on land
What it means to win
Winning a Green Gown Award would recognise Loughborough University’s leadership in showing how sport can drive meaningful action for nature, climate and communities. BUCS to Branches reflects our values of ambition, innovation and social responsibility, turning student sporting success into verified restoration. This recognition would help us inspire others across higher education and sport to adopt simple, scalable models that deliver real environmental and social impact.
| 2026 | |
| Nature Positive | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
More from the 2026 awards
Charles Sturt University
Restoring Nature, Inspiring Futures: 20+ Years of Biodiversity Leadership
Read More
Finalist, Nature Positive
Green Gown Award Regions
Australasia
