Postgraduate Offer Holders to have Trees Planted in their Names

The University of Lincoln will plant 31 new trees at its picturesque Riseholme Campus in the name of each applicant who applied at its recent Postgraduate Open Days. As part of the sustainable initiative, the University has pledged to plant one new tree for each postgraduate application received on its open days, and later this year they will start growing on location at Riseholme at the centre for the University of Lincoln’s extensive agricultural and forestry research.

Lincoln is ranked in the top 200 institutions worldwide for its teaching and research in these areas, and scientists at Riseholme are undertaking pioneering studies in sustainable energy and in agroforestry, looking at the benefits of woodland to landowners and farmers alike. The environmental tree-planting initiative came as part of the University’s work to help raise awareness of the current climate emergency and to make a positive impact on this global challenge. The trees being planted will include a new peach tree for Riseholme’s walled garden.

Danielle Sparkes is one of the students who submitted an application and will have a tree planted in her name. She studied Business and Finance as an undergraduate student at Lincoln, and now holds an offer to study on the MSc Agri-food Technology course at Riseholme. Danielle, who is 20 and originally from King’s Lynn, said: “The Riseholme Campus is a nice escape from city life, and it’s great that the University is making such an effort to be environmentally sustainable. I went to an Open Day for the Agri-food course last year so I’d been thinking about the course for a while and was planning to put an application in, so I was really pleased to see the tree planting initiative. I know I’ll be spending a lot of time at the Riseholme Campus – I’ve already visited a few times before and I hope to see the trees up there soon!

“I initially wanted to do a masters degree focusing on the supply chain but then I discovered this course which covers everything from field to fork. After studying Business and Finance for three years, I’m keen to do something more practical, and I think having the undergraduate degree in Business and a masters in Agri-food will give me a good all-round industry knowledge. The course starts from crop science and goes right through the supply chain, so it will enable me to leave my options open in terms of next steps.”

With experience in the soft fruit and farming industries already, Danielle hopes to pursue a career in the supermarket supply chain or the food production sector. All students who made applications at the Postgraduate Open Day are also being considered for the University’s new Environmental Scholarship of £3,000 to support their studies. The scholarship is open to all subject areas, with applicants being asked to state how their postgraduate study will help them personally to make an impact on the climate emergency.

Professor Libby John, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science at the University of Lincoln, said: “As Chair of the University’s Environment and Sustainability Committee, I am delighted that we are able to demonstrate our passion for the natural environment to our new applicants by planting a tree for each of them, and in doing so enhancing the landscape of our beautiful Riseholme Campus.

“Planting trees is one of the many ways we are responding to our climate emergency – as well as reducing our carbon footprint, conducting research on carbon management in agricultural systems, and making sure all our students can engage with the sustainability agenda.”

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