About
Open Living Lab
The Open Living Lab (OLL) provides a unique opportunity to study urban ecosystems in detail, with a focus on riparian woodland and floodplain meadow habitats that are both rare and of significant conservation value. The site supports a wide range of environmental monitoring and research activities, combining ecological fieldwork with innovative technologies.
Current work includes acoustic monitoring of birds using machine learning, biophysical instrumentation for meteorological data, and detailed soil analysis, including moisture and nutrient profiling across different soil types. Alongside this, we are sampling invertebrates, monitoring water quality in the River Ouzel, enhancing floodplain meadow biodiversity through targeted management, and recording mammal activity using camera traps. Each of these research areas has a dedicated page, accessible via the navigation bar.
The Open Living Lab also serves as a resource for Open University academics, supporting the development of interactive teaching materials, collaborative research across higher education, and public engagement through Open Educational Resources (OERs). This work will contribute to a future free, open-access course on urban nature recovery, delivered through the OU’s OpenLearn platform. Several modules using data from the Lab are already in development.
Alongside the ground-based site, the Living Roof Live Lab extends this research into the built environment. Based on an experimental green roof, it investigates how urban infrastructure can be designed to support biodiversity, regulate climate, and deliver long-term ecological function.
Together, these sites form a connected research platform, exploring nature recovery across urban landscapes – from ground to rooftop.
We are also developing plans to expand a dedicated visitor centre, which will provide space for tailored learning experiences and public education programmes led by OU experts. These will include guided learning walks, hands-on science activities within the living laboratory, and classroom-based sessions.
In keeping with our commitment to accessibility, the Open Living Lab is freely open to the public, offering a welcoming environment for exploration, discovery, and enjoyment.
This site provides an overview of ongoing activities, research outputs, and educational resources. Further information on biodiversity, biophysical monitoring, and the people involved can be found via the navigation bar.
