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Tidying up the green wall at Madeira Drive

This Thursday morning, Portslade Green Gym are going to flex their muscles ‘lopping and chopping’ the weeds in the bed at the foot of Madeira Drive green wall. Organised by Building Green and supervised by The Ecology Consultancy, this important voluntary work will keep the pavement at the Duke’s Mound end clear of plants, remove the more stubborn weeds and maximise biodiversity along the foot of this unique Victorian green wall.

green_gym

The plan is to plant gaps in this section of the Madeira Drive green wall with new spindle plants, which will be trained up newly installed wires for support. The Council recently finished concreting a section of the wall that was in poor condition – it’s a pretty ugly finish that will be far more attractive when we have re-established plants in front.

Building Green is awaiting the Council’s planned consultation on the future of the Terraces and green wall, which were promised in the new year.

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Works underway at Madeira Drive

Work has started this winter to put up new anti-climb fencing along Madeira Drive, and concrete unstable sections of wall along Duke’s Mound.

The Japanese Spindle is flowering, and a Portslade Green Gym works party organised by Building Green will be doing some vegetation management at the Duke’s Mound end in February. This work will keep the pavement clear of plants, remove the more stubborn weeds and maximise biodiversity along the foot of the Victorian green wall.

The plan is to plant gaps in this section of the Madeira Drive green wall with new spindle plants, which will be trained up newly installed wires for support.

Building Green is awaiting the Council’s planned consultation on the future of the Terraces and green wall, which were promised in the new year.

Madeira Drive A5 leaflet Building Green 1509

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Northfield – Sussex University’s sustainable student housing

We walked round the back of Stanmer Park today, to see the green roofs at Northfield, the campus extension of Sussex University.

Approaching Northfield student housing from Stanmer Park

Approaching Northfield student housing from Stanmer Park

Built between 2010 and 2013, the campus features a wide range of features to minimise its environmental impact and running costs. It’s location was controversial – north of the main campus, on farmland, and tucked right up against the South Downs National Park, a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Nature Conservation Importance – so it particularly needed to blend in and demonstrate a sustainability ethos.

“The complex has 272 secure bicycle parking spots (one for every three residents) and eight car parking spaces, four of which are for wheelchair users.

A number of energy-efficiency measures include green roofs (which increase insulation and provide greater biodiversity), low-energy lighting, double glazing and recycling facilities.”

Several steep sloping green roofs are an obvious feature of Northfields student housing

15 steep sloping green roofs are an obvious feature of Northfields student housing

The development won a Green Apple Sustainability Award, and received a Breeam Excellent rating.

northfield

However, there are problems with the green roofs, which are unusual in being pitched. They look like they are struggling and dying in places.

The planning application noted that “The use of green roofs will be beneficial in blending the development into the landscape from longer views and as an ecological compensation for developing an existing greenfield site.”

But it also said “The green roof treatment to the buildings will, if successful, further minimise the visual impact of the buildings as well as providing additional habitat. Sedum roofs often dry out after 2/3 years so there is a concern that the oversown sedum treatment may be short lived and not be fully fit for purpose, and that a slightly deeper root run might provide a more effective substrate on which to establish a chalk downland type flora.”

Although the green roofs certainly do help the development blend into the surrounding countryside, it seems like the fears about the longevity of the Sedum have been realised. Elsewhere in Brighton & Hove failing green roofs have been successfully refurbished.

For example, green roofs have been part of the University of Brighton campus for some time. At the Checkland Building, green roofs have recently been restored following some initial problems with the planting and the limited amount of growing medium installed.

“The Checkland Building has been environmentally designed, incorporating night time cooling, natural ventilation, and green roofs to insulate the building from heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.  As the university sits within the South Downs, a recognised area of chalk grassland (calcareous), the creation of flower rich green roofs provides an important enhancement within the Checkland Building for invertebrates associated with such area.”

The Huxley Building and Falmer Sports Centres also have green roofs – these have suffered similar problems to Checkland and have had to be refurbished. Organic Roofs have the contract for this work, and have refurbished the landmark Velo Cafe green roof at the Level in Brighton, which is now thriving.

 

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Huge new undulating green roof in Paris

We have a mini version of this in Whitehawk – very mini – and a similar sized roof over the water treatment works in Peacehaven. But at 650 feet long this Parisian roof/park is huge, and way more interesting ecologically.

Part lab, part park, the stunning Espace Bienvenüe was designed by Pargade Architectes and is part of nearly seven hectares that consitutes the green belt of a huge learning center.

A building and a park all in one, the Espace Bienvenüe provides a major recreational landscaped garden for Paris

The green roof of Peacehaven Wastewater Treatment Works is one of the largest in Europe

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Why Sedum green roofs often struggle to survive…

Good article here by Lee Evans, Director of Organic Roofs, on why so many Sedum green roofs struggle.

Struggling Sedum green roof

Unfortunately the many Sedum green roofs in Brighton are struggling too – for example those on Council buildings such as Whitehawk Children’s Centre and library, private buildings like the Smart House on Ditchling Road and the American Express HQ in Kemptown, and schools like Downs Junior.

The good news is that any struggling green roof can often be given a whole new lease of life by adding additional substrate, and establishing some more suitable plants.

Better still to get it right first time!