Nice bike shed green roof on Freshfield Road.
Bike shed with green roof
Bike shed with a green roof, Brighton
diy
Building Green tour of Brighton & Hove
The second day of our DIY Green Roof workshop involved a tour of some inspirational buildings in Brighton & Hove.
First was the Velo Cafe, with a green roof fitted by Organic Roofs. Lee Evans talked the group through the trials and tribulations of green roofing on a pitched slope. The roof now looks great, and we spotted a female grey wagtail feeding on it.
Building Green DIY Green Roof workshoppers taking a tour of the Velo Cafe, Brighton
Grey wagtail on the roof of the Velo Cafe, Brighton
Building Green DIY Green Roof workshoppers taking a tour of the Velo Cafe, Brighton
We visited Madeira Drive to see the ‘world famous sheltered walk’ and the green wall. Great inspiration for greening the other 4 building surfaces – which are often forgotten amongst all the talk of roofs! This was the first guided visit to the Madeira Drive Green Wall, and Building Green highlighted the threats and opportunities for its continued conservation.
Building Green DIY Green Roof workshop crew hearing about the special green wall at Madeira Drive, Brighton
Finally we went to Whitehawk to see the great wildflower roof at the Crew Club. Unfortunately the roofs on the Children’s Centre and library are faring less well – much of the planting has died and the roofs should really be refurbished. Still, it’s a hotspot for green roofing and green building – nearby houses are making their own contribution too, as this well managed ivy attests.
The ‘chalk downland’ green roofs of the Crew Club community centre, Whitehawk, Brighton
Whitehawk home – carefully grown and tended ivy as a home for wildlife and attractive front garden. Brighton
All in all a great weekend – new friendships, new networks, and some new neural pathways from all this learning!
DIY green roof workshop a success!
This weekend’s DIY Green Roof workshop was a real success!
Happy green roofers with their green roofed bird boxes
We had participants from Brighton & Hove and further afield across the country…and a keen Spanish green roofer who travelled over from Córdoba!
We discussed the fine points of projects on sheds, house extensions and even a Dutch barge.
Everyone put their learning into practice by building their own green roofs and installing them on a bird box they also put together.
The second day was a tour of some green roofs and green walls.
Lee Evans, course tutor, talking participants through the benefits and technical aspects of green roofing at Organic Roofs HQ
Lee Evans, course tutor, demonstrating how to build the bird box to the course participants.
Course participants DIY-ing their bird boxes
James Farrell, course tutor, talking participants through a container green roof at Organic Roofs HQ
James Farrell, course tutor, talking participants through a container green roof at Organic Roofs HQ
Finished bird box with a green roof
Happy course participant with their green roofed bird box
Getting ready for DIY green roofs
Lee and I spent a few hours yesterday making the bird boxes and green roof kits that our lovely participants will put together on Saturday. No, I’m not about to drill through my hand…
It’s not too late to book!
Visit Brighton Permaculture Trust.
Not too late to book your DIY Green Roof course!
It’s not too late to book your place on this year’s DIY green roof course!
- learn about how to build green roofs
- understand the history of global green roofing, and the benefits of the modern habitat-based approach
- put the principles into practice – build your own green roofed bird box to take home
- visit inspirational green roofs and green walls in Brighton & Hove
- get expert advice on your project
- enjoy the surroundings of Organic Roof’s new workshop, right on the banks of Shoreham harbour
- have fun, learn new skills and make new friends!
You never know, you might be so inspired that you jack your job in after the course – and become a professional green roofer. That’s exactly what previous course participant Lee Evans did!
To book your place, visit https://brightonpermaculture.org.uk/courses/ecobuild/greenroofs
Happy green roofer with the green roofed bird box we built on the Building Green DIY weekend
Come and learn how to build your own green roof
3 weeks left to book a place on the original Green Roof DIY course.
Book by visiting the Brighton Permaculture Trust website.
shed green roof on allotment in Brighton
Running over the weekend of 24-25 October, this year we’ll be hosted on the Saturday at the Organic Roofs office and workshop in Shoreham. There are real green roofs to see close up, and plenty of materials to get your hands on…and an amazing view of the harbour to boot! Or is that ‘to boat’.
Book by visiting the Brighton Permaculture Trust website.
Book your place and learn to green roof!
It’s nearly that time of year again…
Building Green is running our DIY Green Roof course on 24-25 October in Brighton.
This is run with our partners Organic Roofs and Brighton Permaculture Trust. It’s the first of it’s kind in the UK, and was established back in 2007.
Learn hands on how green roofs work, question the experts about your project, and visit some inspirational examples in the city.
Bookings can be made here.
Happy course participants in 2013, building their green roof bird boxes
DIY green roof course 2015 – advance notice!
The next Building Green with Organic roofs ‘DIY green roof course’ will be on the weekend of 24 and 25 October 2015.
Details on the Brighton Permaculture Trust website.
Here’s what people said about this year’s course.
“I feel confident in building a green roof after this 1.5 days. That’s what I came for.”
“the tutors were great and we saw some interesting examples of green roofs, nice people on the course and a really nice atmosphere”
“Having more than one course leader with different specialties relevant to the course meant the content was varied but still in depth.”
“I learnt lots of practical things I can apply in my lifestyle.”
A weekend ‘to DIY for’…another successful DIY Green Roof workshop
Thanks to everyone who took part in this weekend’s Green Roof workshop, convened by Brighton Permaculture Trust with Building Green and Organic Roofs.
It was a great fun way to spend the weekend – loads to learn, new people to meet.
Watch this space for more courses in future.
Next ‘DIY Green Roof’ course is taking bookings now!
We’re on for our next DIY course, following the successful weekend led by Building Green and Organic Roofs last year.
Taking place on the weekend of 18-19 October, participants will ‘learn by doing’ – building their own green roofed bird box to take home, visiting green roof projects in Brighton & Hove, and learning about the history, policy and technology of green roofs from leading practitioners.
Building Green DIY course March 2013
The course is hosted by the Brighton Permaculture Trust – you can make bookings from their site here.
Brighton & Hove Building Green 