The University of Sussex is among the UK’s most wildlife-friendly universities, according to a recent study.

The study, led by wildlife care experts Ark Wildlife, placed the university in a “platinum tier”, praising it for its wildlife protection policies and partnerships with wildlife causes.

The report examined 120 universities from across the country based on their wildlife initiatives and support, both on and off campus.

In recent years, Sussex University has become pesticide free, become a zero green waste campus and supported nationally important chalk grassland habitat.

The university also has formed a number of partnerships, including with grassroots environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage and the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

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Almost a third of universities who responded to the study, including Sussex University, scored top marks by supporting wildlife with a number of active measures.

Other universities in the report’s “platinum tier”, included the University of Cambridge, the University of York, the University of Oxford and the University of Southampton.

The University of Chichester also featured in the top tier, while the University of Brighton placed in the slightly lower “gold tier”, due to its lack of partnership or funding for local wildlife causes.

Some 84 per cent of universities who responded have at least one initiative for local wildlife, but the most commonly overlooked factor was biodiversity or wildlife activities for students.

However, Sussex University was praised for offering staff and students opportunities to participate in wildlife activities, including projects to build bee hotels and hoverfly lagoons across campus, install bird and bat boxes on multiple sites, and plant an orchard of old Sussex varieties of fruit trees.

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Sean McMenemy, director at Ark Wildlife, said: “It’s clear that some universities are taking wildlife conservation extremely seriously, and it’s great to see.

“They’re really in tune with the local environment, providing invaluable habitats to animals in the area.

“Importantly, the most wildlife-friendly universities are actively encouraging students to become involved.

“This will breed greater awareness of conservation methods and just how vital wildlife is to the UK.

“Hopefully, it will also instill a lifelong love of animals and the environment in their graduates.”