The Lions’ Gate is committed to protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of Edinburgh Napier University campuses as per the university’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. It also functions as a community-led learning and research space, embedding regenerative, innovative and pioneering activities into its work to address the dizzying scale of climate breakdown; deteriorating human health & wellbeing; and inequalities of wealth and opportunity.
The Lions’ Gate utilises the ethics, principles and creativity of permaculture to confront these concerns. It challenges normative practices and encourages advocation for nature as a means to achieve transformational environmental impact in the Higher Education sector.
Situated in Edinburgh, Scotland on Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston Campus – The Lions’ Gate (Growing Regenerative Futures), is an inspirational, creative, urban, grassroots, interdisciplinary, permaculture learning and demonstration site, providing; garden, outdoor laboratory, allotment, venue, performance, re-wilding, and relaxation space for the local community.
At our organic, bio-diverse, abundant and reciprocal habitats, students, staff, local and international communities can safely;
- explore and design solutions to the environmental concerns of our age
- immerse in nature for restorative health
- investigate the impact and appropriateness of digital technology on the environment
- learn how to grow, nurture, and harvest organically grown food
- think globally, act locally
- share knowledge and look after one another
- perform
- have fun
For more details see our gardens and resources pages.
In a nutshell, The Lions’ Gate is an inclusive regenerative gardens project that seeks to ‘create the right conditions for people to empower themselves’ [Graham Bell].
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Lions’ Gate has signed the SDG Accord to advance the critical role that education has in delivering the SDGs and the value it brings to governments, business and wider society, making a commitment via my learning institution to deliver the goals.
