I've always liked a plant, especially the wild sort. Ever since I was a kid i've used our native flowers, and then finally in 1998 I started the Grass Roof Company. Since then we have introduced wild landscapes into schools, public space and onto roofs. Many of these ideas we trial in our own garden, here is a link to the work we do at home. We can use this love of plants as a tool to change places for people and for other wildlife.
Greenspace is key in making places liveable and good. We are privileged to work in public space as the potential to change and improve our towns and cities is huge and so underplayed. Its the places we feel relaxed about destroying, yet they are potentially the most exciting habitats for wildlife we have. We love used freight containers, they have already spent at least 10 years at sea, they are immensely strong and versatile.
A perfect base to fix green roofs and habitat walls. Written with my green roof mates, Dusty Gedge, Nigel Dunnett and Ed Snodgrass we share our thoughts knowledge and great pics.
Greenspace is key in making places liveable and good. We are privileged to work in public space as the potential to change and improve our towns and cities is huge and so underplayed. Its the places we feel relaxed about destroying, yet they are potentially the most exciting habitats for wildlife we have. We love used freight containers, they have already spent at least 10 years at sea, they are immensely strong and versatile.
A perfect base to fix green roofs and habitat walls. Written with my green roof mates, Dusty Gedge, Nigel Dunnett and Ed Snodgrass we share our thoughts knowledge and great pics.
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Unfortunately to government brownfield means 'build on' Its the places we feel relaxed about destroying, yet they are potentially the most exciting habitats for wildlife we have.
It's our waste and disturbance that makes these places unique and precious.
We can and must recreate this landscape but in a way that people want to see.
We need to get creative with our construction waste and design it back into public space.
Heres a link to a recent blog.
Here are some images of the work we have been doing to make brownfield work for wildlife and people.
It's our waste and disturbance that makes these places unique and precious.
We can and must recreate this landscape but in a way that people want to see.
We need to get creative with our construction waste and design it back into public space.
Heres a link to a recent blog.
Here are some images of the work we have been doing to make brownfield work for wildlife and people.
The plants, soil and bug habitat are fixed to a heavy galvanised frame with stainless steel trays to waterproof.
If your going to call something sustainable surely that means it needs to last!
No one wants them near them but you have to put your bins somewhere.
Get plants on the roof and natural materials on the walls and you have a chance, intact we have found people actually like these shelters!
Built with the same combination of galvenised steel and stainless as our cycle stores they will last, look cool and provide space for bins, bugs and birds.
If your going to call something sustainable surely that means it needs to last!
No one wants them near them but you have to put your bins somewhere.
Get plants on the roof and natural materials on the walls and you have a chance, intact we have found people actually like these shelters!
Built with the same combination of galvenised steel and stainless as our cycle stores they will last, look cool and provide space for bins, bugs and birds.
We all know pollinators are vital to us, but our most vital pollinators are solitary bees.
These wonderful bugs get overlooked in favour of the more glamorous and sociable Honey Bee.
We love them so much we always clad our buildings in holes.
Holes in wood from 3-10mm, they love them and given the right aspect make there home in them.
Last year we trialled what we are calling sand planters, a section of drainage pipe filled with soil surrounded by a perforated steel ring packed with sand.
We are hoping this will be a way of getting a pile of sand into urban places and provide space for plants.
These wonderful bugs get overlooked in favour of the more glamorous and sociable Honey Bee.
We love them so much we always clad our buildings in holes.
Holes in wood from 3-10mm, they love them and given the right aspect make there home in them.
Last year we trialled what we are calling sand planters, a section of drainage pipe filled with soil surrounded by a perforated steel ring packed with sand.
We are hoping this will be a way of getting a pile of sand into urban places and provide space for plants.
Green roofs really work but if you get more soil up there they work far better, we use a minimum of 150mm of substrate, always have.
This means the roofs support a much wider mix of plants, absorb more water, support more bugs and more life.
We now design roofs using different soils, different soil depths, wetland roofs, partly vegetated roofs and roofs full of bee and bug habitat.
This means the roofs support a much wider mix of plants, absorb more water, support more bugs and more life.
We now design roofs using different soils, different soil depths, wetland roofs, partly vegetated roofs and roofs full of bee and bug habitat.
We have been looking after the green space on Clapton park estate (the poppy estate) for 15 years.
With the help of residents we have changed and learned a lot.
Its a great place, I love working there and we have made many good friends.
Most of all though we have learned that all social housing deserves decent green space and the way to get that and keep it is to value the people that look after it.
To really make a change towards imaginative and community based green space we need to change the contracts that Grounds maintenance teams works to.
With the help of residents we have changed and learned a lot.
Its a great place, I love working there and we have made many good friends.
Most of all though we have learned that all social housing deserves decent green space and the way to get that and keep it is to value the people that look after it.
To really make a change towards imaginative and community based green space we need to change the contracts that Grounds maintenance teams works to.
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