9th September: Living Roofs & Ecosystem Services
Dusty Gedge and Gary Grant
Flash flooding, air pollution health alerts are already part of London’s summer profile. The near future will see these increase due to an increase in the urban heat island effect. Possible Lisbon style temperatures by 2020. This masterclass looks at a range of ecological design principles to adapt our cities to climate change. An Ecosystem services approach focuses on the benefits of plants, soils and landscapes on helping adapt our cities to climate change. An ecosystem approach embraces a range of approaches, including green roofs, green walls and rain gardens that multi-functional and require trans-disciplinary collaboration.
The course is aimed at professionals involved in the built environment – civil, mechanical, structural, ecological engineers, architects and landscape architects, contractors, nature conservationists, ecologists etc
To book – contact
The day is led by the urban ecologist Dusty Gedge, the UK’s foremost living and green roof campaigner and writer, and Gary Grant, independent ecologist and urban masterplanner. Both have been recognised internationally for their achievements on ecological urban design in the UK and abroad.
Lady’s Bedstraw is found on dry, sandy sites, grasslands and dunes. Being suited to dry and well drained situations make’s it an ideal for green roofs. Continue reading Green roof plant of the week – Lady’s Bedstraw
The Oxford Green Roof Company is a small green roof design and build company based in Oxfordshire. They have taken a lot of advice from our DIY guide and both Dusty and John Little on setting up their company and how to build and approach the establishment of good green roofs. Their entry at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show provided a great example of the range of green roofs that are possible on small scale builds. Including a vegetable garden on top of a shed. Continue reading Meadows and Veg Shed – RHS Hampton Court
Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) is a classic plant of rough grassland, dry meadows and road verges. This makes it ideal for planting on small scale large green roofs. It is also a great plant and is included in my species lists for brown roofs and biodiverse roofs.
Continue reading Green roof plant of the week – Common Knapweed
Dianthus species are common wildflowers on green roofs on the continent. Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides) is a widespread UK native wild pink and is an ideal wildflower for green roofs.
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