Today I counted up to 10 bumblebees* per m2 on the Madeira Drive Green Wall. They just love to bee beside the seaside, collecting pollen from the Japanese spindle.
*probably Bombus lucorum white tailed bumblebee
Does your green roof need reviving?
Everyone wants to save money and do things as cheaply as possible when it comes to our houses, and green roofs are no exception.
Unfortunately, corners are often cut during the design and build and that roof which looks lovely and healthy on the day of installation can quickly deteriorate. In fact, the vast majority of green roofs we see are in poor condition, and won’t be delivering the kind of benefits that the owners would like… whether that is a great place for nature, energy bill savings, managing floodwater, or just looking healthy and green.
Green Roof Revival is a company set up to bring roofs like this into top condition. This week Building Green accompanied Lee Evans, director of Green Roof Revival, on a site visit to 2 roofs in Chichester. This is what we saw.
Do you want to help run Building Green?
Building Green needs you.
** Change of Date **
New volunteers are welcome to help run Brighton & Hove Building Green. No particular skills required – just an enthusiasm for making our city and greener and more pleasant place…and a willingness to get stuck in!
- green wall maintenance
- green roof mapping
- community engagement and events
- social media
- web development
- representing the environment in city forums
We will be meeting at the Earth & Stars on 23 July, at 530-730pm. Come and say hi and find out more!
Any questions, or to let us know you’re coming, drop us a line hello@building-green.org.uk
Building Green volunteers restoring the oldest, longest green wall in the UK in Brighton
A poster for your (green) wall – Saving the oldest, longest green wall in the UK!
A great adornment for any front window or bedroom wall!
Madeira Drive Green Wall small poster
Please print and display proudly.
Building Green needs you!
We are holding a meeting on 23 July and we need you.
Building Green has achieved great things in the last few years, but needs fresh blood! We are exploring reconstituting the organisation so we can apply for funds and make a bigger difference to the environment and folks of Brighton & Hove.
Come along on 23 July to the Earth and Stars pub in Brighton, 530pm, for a beer and a chat, and we’ll see where it takes us!
Drop us a line to say you’re coming along at info@building-green.org.uk
Hope to see you soon!
An open letter from Building Green
Dear friends
Building Green has come a long way since 2006.
- We set up the UK’s first training course in green roofing, which ran successfully for many years in partnership with the Brighton Permaculture Trust, and continues in its new guise under the management of Human Nature and Green Roof Revival.
- We published a set of case studies to promote our city’s innovative green roofs and walls, and a website that receives over 1000 visitors a month from around the world.
- We have given a large number of talks to promote green roofs and walls in our city, and run tours of green buildings and Madeira Drive green wall.
- We published a free local history of Madeira Drive – a unique ‘miracle mile’ of Victorian invention.
- With partners, we published a major study of the green roof retrofit potential in Brighton.
- We took on the management of Madeira Drive green wall, working with Green Gym volunteers and providing approximately 200 hours of voluntary labour to improve the local environment.
- We successfully argued for Madeira Drive Green Wall’s designation as the UK’s first such local wildlife site, and promoted our work internationally.
- We are an active partner in the Council’s endeavours to restore and regenerate the East Brighton seafront.
Originally, we were constituted formally as a voluntary association. This gave us credibility, enabled us to apply successfully for funds, and establish our position in the network of community groups in the city. The formal constitution has lapsed, and I would like to invite you to discuss the value of re-awakening it. There is still work to do – green infrastructure is climbing up the political agenda, our climate threats are more apparent than ever, and there is compelling science demonstrating the link between local green space, health and quality of life.
We need help to:
– refresh the purpose of Building Green with new input
– involve more people in the leadership and delivery of our work
– enable the ability to access funds including the Council’s Community Development Fund
This is an opportunity to get involved in shaping the future of Building Green. Together we can achieve even more.
Contact us or email hello@building-green.org.uk if you would like to be involved.
Thank you!
Volunteers restore oldest, longest green wall in UK
Today volunteers with Building Green planted 45 Japanese Spindle plants to fill the gaps in the green wall at Madeira Drive, Brighton & Hove.
Some of the volunteers at work
Originally established in 1872 this green wall is the oldest and longest of its kind in the UK. The plants were grown on from cuttings taken from the site and should one day reach as high as their 20m tall, 150 year old neighbours!
A big thank you to everyone involved.
