events

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Big Nature was a Big success!

A really good day at Big Nature in the Brighton Centre yesterday. Worth doing again next year we reckon.

The kids went mad for the Building Green drawing and colouring competition – inspired by the green roofed bird box sponsored by Organic Roofs!

There is a winner – but you’ll have to wait to see the picture!

Here are some snaps from the day.

Building Green drawing competition entrants in full colouring frenzy!

Building Green drawing competition entrants in full colouring frenzy!

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James Farrell speaking about DIY green roofs

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Building Green colouring competition in full swing @Big Nature, Brighton

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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

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.

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small sheds…Big Nature!

Come say hello at the Big Nature event in the Brighton Centre, this Saturday 3 October, 2-4 pm. It’s free!

Building Green banner

Building Green banner

Building Green will be there with a stand, a ‘flowery building’ competition for kids, and we will be doing a free talk on how to DIY small shed green roofs.

We’ll be signing people up for the DIY Green Roof weekend.

We’ll also be talking about the importance of Madeira Drive green wall, and hoping to make new contacts that can help promote green roofs and living walls in the city.

Madeira Drive A5 leaflet Building Green 1509

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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

Happy course participants in 2013, building their green roof bird boxes

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Building Green at Big Nature

Big Nature is a free event to encourage awareness and involvement in the natural environment.

Building Green will be there to promote green roofs and living walls for nature in the city. We will be running activities for kids, providing free advice, and talking about how to DIY your own shed green roof.

We’ll also be raising awareness of the importance of our existing environment in the city, including the historic and unique Madeira Drive Green Wall.

Download the new Madeira Drive Green Wall leaflet here.

Madeira Drive A5 leaflet Building Green 1509

Wallflower, Madeira Drive green wall, Brighton

Wallflower, Madeira Drive green wall, Brighton

Big Nature in the Biosphere, Sat 3rd October, 1 to 4 pm, The Foyer, The Brighton Centre

Big Nature in the Biosphere is an interactive event aimed at all ages where you can see what wildlife a pond in your back garden could attract or learn how to make your very own butterfly haven on your front lawn or garage roof. The event will be promoting the great work people are doing within our community and you can find out how to join a group caring for local wildlife reserve near you or how to do it for yourself in your own back garden. 

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Volks railway – Heritage Lottery Fund open meeting

Plans for the rejuvenation of Volk’s Electric Railway are at an advanced stage and this will be an opportunity for members of the public to talk to the architects and consultants.

A model of the proposed new Aquarium Station and Visitor Centre will be on display, as will detailed plans of the new sheds at Banjo Groyne.   Photographs of the three cars selected for restoration will also be available.

The event is being held at the Yellowave Clubhouse, 299 Madeira Drive from 1pm – 5pm.

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Green fingers Sunday is on! 10am, Sunday 29 March

We’re meeting on Marine Parade, at the top of the ramp up from Madeira Drive.

Just here.

We’ll be weeding the beds, sowing some seeds and probably planting some cuttings of Japanese spindle.

Come along to help, or just to say hi!

Here is the seed list – it will add colour and interest and help keep some of the less interesting weeds down.

% Latin name Common name
2.5 Achillea millefolium Yarrow
15 Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed
2.5 Daucus carota Wild Carrot
7.5 Galium verum Lady’s Bedstraw
10 Knautia arvensis Field Scabious
7.5 Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy
7 Lotus corniculatus Birdsfoot Trefoil
15 Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
2 Plantago media Hoary Plantain
2.5 Primula veris Cowslip
15 Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup
7.5 Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle
5 Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel
1 Trifolium pratense Wild Red Clover
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Green fingers Sunday

Green fingers needed to help do some maintenance at the Madeira Drive green wall!

On Sunday 29 March at 10am some of us are meeting at the top of the ramp on Marine Parade, eastern end of the green wall near Duke’s Mound. The beds at the foot of the green wall need some maintenance – brambles and thistles and stuff. We will also be taking cuttings to plant in gaps in the wall, and may be sowing some wildflower seed.

Building Green image of green wall

Madeira Drive green wall, Brighton

Bring thick gloves, secateurs, loppers etc, coffee and cake! We can have a walk and natter about the site’s history as well if you like.

Drop us an email via the contact us page if you’d like to come.

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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.”