Those happy loppers – Portslade Green Gym – will be visiting Madeira Drive again soon with Building Green, to work their magic on the historic green wall.
Thursday 16 March, 10am – 1pm.
Drop by and say hello if you can!
Madeira Drive Green wall below Paston Place, 10 October 2016
Most will think of Sedum (stonecrops) and their cousins Sempervivum (houseleeks) species when thinking of the right planting for a green roof. However, they often struggle to thrive long term in our climate and without the appropriate growing medium, or get out competed by grasses. It’s usually better to look around at surrounding natural habitat and try and replicate that with wildflowers and other plants.
However, on green walls, gabions and other structures they can be very successful, as shown in these Brighton examples.
Featuring on the gabions at the Tempest Inn is Hottentot Fig, an import from South Africa that is very common on many of our coasts and forms dense mats that out-compete native plants. Fine on the gabions, not fine on the beach…
Some good looking green roofs spotted on a recent visit to Hammersmith.
These are on bin shelters on an estate overlooking the Thames, and were installed by Groundwork London.
Building Green will be speaking this year with Lee Evans from Organic Roofs.
Good to see the great new interpretation boards at the Volks railway opposite Duke’s Mound, celebrating the wildlife of the seafront. Everyone was stopping to have a read on their way past.
The interpretation is by the talented Lucid Design.
Part of the Volks track bed is a local wildlife site, and sports vegetated shingle plants that local developments such as the new Marina development are looking to incorporate into their green roofs and landscaping.
This superb shot by Paul Norman has recently come to our attention. It’s 1985 – shows the green wall East of the shelter hall is fully intact…sadly a few of these veteran (planted c1880) Japanese spindle trunks are missing now, but it’s still one of the best bits of green wall on the whole stretch. Also visible are the hedges that used to exist along on the southern edge of the terrace. Does anyone know what year they were taken out?
Building Green is meeting with the Council on Friday to talk through the proposals for redevelopment of Madeira Drive. We are keen to offer our expertise and support.
Paul’s group Hanover Action, are doing some fantastic work to improve the quality of life for Hanover residents. Check them out here.
Portslade Green Gym volunteers did another great job on the Madeira Drive green wall on 13 October.
Before and after pictures below. Another visit is planned for the new year.
Unfortunately, due to family illness, the green roof DIY course run by Building Green and Organic Roofs in partnership with the Brighton Permaculture Trust, is cancelled.
The good news is we will be announcing a new date soon.
Building Green founder James Farrell is speaking at the next meeting of Hanover Action, Friday 28 October.
The meeting is from 6.30 pm at Hanover Community Centre on Southover Street, and there will be talks and plant stalls. More details here.
The subject is ‘Greening our urban landscape‘, and James is speaking about the potential to plant up your building surfaces.
Joining James is Organic Roofs head honcho Lee Evans, and Paul Norman from the One Planet Living Group.
Come along – it’s free! – learn stuff, make friends, get inspired!
The next opportunity to learn how to ‘do green roofs yourself’ is coming up.
On the weekend of 29 & 30 October, Building Green with Organic Roofs and Brighton Permaculture Trust, is running a workshop on the subject.
For bookings go here.
These highly successful workshops have been running for several years. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a fun weekend of learning about this fascinating subject, picking up new skills and quizzing the experts on how to ‘do it yourself’.
For bookings go here.
Brighton & Hove Building Green 