April 26, 2016 by James Farrell

The lopping and chopping continues! Green Gym party at Madeira Drive Green Wall

Next Thursday 5 May, Portslade Green Gym’s wonderful team of energetic volunteers will be sprucing up the Victorian green wall at Madeira Drive.

20160211_105305

Armed with ‘loppers and choppers’ they will be clearing weeds and rubbish to improve biodiversity and tidy up this part of the seafront.

The work is organised by Brighton & Hove Building Green, and is supported by the Council.

– Including a strong environmental focus in local policy development, especially BHCC’s City Plan Part 2 and the Open Spaces Strategy

February 14, 2016 by James Farrell

Green gym did a great job down at Madeira Drive green wall

15 volunteers from Portslade Green Gym have given the foliage at the Madeira Drive green wall a makeover. They cleared huge piles of weeds and ivy that were smothering the bed, getting onto the pavement, and crowding out the more attractive wild plants. Over 100 species of plant have been found at the Madeira Drive green wall. The Green Gym were supervised by Building Green member The Ecology Consultancy.

The Council cleared away the green waste the same day, and this end of the green wall is looking much smarter.

Building Green will be seeding the bed to encourage more wild flowers. We will also be working with the Council to establish new Japanese spindle planting in front of the freshly concreted stretch.

The rest of the Victorian green wall is currently out of bounds due to the instability of the antique ironwork of Madeira Terrace.

Madeira Drive A5 leaflet Building Green 1509

Approximately 100 years separates these photos, showing Madeira Drive, the Volks railway, Kemp Town and the Madeira Drive green wall

November 16, 2015 by James Farrell

New Madeira Terraces design ideas

Michael Doyle Town Planning have shared this new design for Madeira Drive with the Council and Building Green.

Maderia Terrace with light weight timber deck and cherry picker for green wall maintenance

It shows how a timber upper level would allow light to filter through. It’s a more lightweight solution. Michael has also shown a cherry picker on the upper level, which would allow easy maintenance of the green wall.

The green wall covers and protects large areas of the cliff and saves money in the expensive application of new concrete render. However, it does need maintenance – which could be carried out by volunteers as well as the Council.

Michael’s earlier designs also show commercial pods which could be slotted under the terrace in future, enabling new, much-needed, business and revenue to be generated in this area of the beach front.

Commercial units coujld be established under the Madeira Terrace

For more of Michael’s designs see this previous post.

November 10, 2015 by James Farrell

Inspiration – Bruno Stagno

Bruno Stagno is an architect from Costa Rica who designs for the tropics.

The use of climbing plants for bio-shading (creating cooler buildings and outdoor spaces) is known in this country too – but these are stunning examples.

He said he enjoys living “in close contact with the exterior environment and enjoy the sensation of openness and connection to nature this brings.”

JYR Building. Climbing plants on frames

Tribu office pergola. Solar shading using climbing plants and frames

October 27, 2015 by James Farrell

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!

October 13, 2015 by James Farrell

New ideas for Madeira Drive

Urban designer Michael Doyle has produced these ideas for a new-look Madeira Drive.

Based on designs published in the Argus in September, these new ideas incorporate the environmental infrastructure that is such an important part of our seafront.

Michael is a local resident who runs an independent town planning and urban design practice. Building Green has met Michael to share ideas.

In one design, photovoltaics could be mounted on the existing ironwork to provide some economic benefit and green electricity whilst longer term solutions are found.

In another, cafes and shops could be assembled as pods that sit outside the terrace at first – providing business space now – and wheeled back under the terrace like Victorian bathing machines if and when a safe, longer term solution is found.

The Council are in private talks over the future of the Madeira terraces, which are currently closed due to the deterioration of the antique Victorian ironwork. Ideas like those of Michael Doyle Building Green and the wider community should be heard as part of a wider debate and search for economic, sustainable solutions.

Building Green is highlighting the importance of the living ‘green wall’, which pre-dates the terraces and is notable for its age, uniqueness in the UK, its wildlife value and for improving the appearance of the East cliff. We are working with the Council to actively manage the only stretch of green wall that is currently accessible – which runs East along the ramp from Peter Pan to the top of Marine Parade.

In the words of Council Leader Warren Morgan, “…we owe it to those who built our city’s heritage, and future generations, to save what we value in our historic city and add to the story of Brighton and Hove for the future.”.

Restored terrace with cafe and shop pods underneath – like Victoria bathing machines these could be established in a space in front of the terraces to be used before the structure is made safe, and wheeled under the arches in due course

Photovoltaics could be established on the terraces where not safe to walk on. This can provide green electricity and some economic benefits, as well as a working platform for green wall maintenance.

A striking way of visualising the environmental infrastructure in East Brighton. Connecting the downs to the sea via the squares, green wall and streets. Supporting wildlife and reducing surface water flood risk.

Madeira Drive green wall, Brighton

Brighton carnival in front of Madeira Drive green wall. Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove

September 27, 2015 by James Farrell

The benefits of green walls

Why plant or protect green walls? What’s the point of them?

There have been good studies on this, focused on green walls for buildings. These have put pound (or dollar) signs on costs of establishment and maintenance, and benefits including:

increased property value (akin to planting street trees)
insulating buildings to reduce air conditioning costs in hot climates
acoustic benefit where the covering is thick
improving biodiversity
improving air quality by trapping dust particles
reducing the frequency of building facade maintenance
air temperature reduction (urban ‘heat island’)

This study concluded that ‘direct green facades’ – ie climbing plants established onto a building surface – are the most sustainable green wall type, and have a very positive net present value.

There are lots of places in Brighton where this applies – around New England for example, Westergate, American Express, and so on.

For Madeira Drive, our most famous green wall, things are a little different. However, the benefits include:

green space for relaxation in a community where the vast majority have no garden, balcony or other outside space
a habitat for wildlife – 100 species of plants, birds, butterflies
a national arboretum for Japanese spindle, and place to learn how to prune, coppice and manage it
a place to study Victorian environmental engineering
a green lung in an otherwise sparsely vegetated area – trapping dust
a more attractive covering for a rendered cliff face that is so much better visually than sprayed concrete
a protective coating for the cliff face – limiting damage and deterioration from wind, rain and cold.
a place for volunteers to get active and health
a backdrop for TV, film, photo shoots and show piece for Brighton & Hove.

It would be useful to do some economics on this – anyone out there with the requisite skills?

September 19, 2015 by James Farrell

The oldest, longest green wall in the UK

Come and talk to Building Green about it – and other things! – at the Big Nature even, Brighton Centre, 1-4pm, 3 October 2015.

September 19, 2015 by James Farrell

Madeira Drive Green Wall – our living Victorian history

Plenty of news about the Madeira Terraces this week, especially a potential bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site Status. But little mention of the integral, living parts of seafront history.

Argus – Rich film heritage

Argus – Minsters invited to Madeira Drive

Argus – World heritage sites well worth applying for

You can download a leaflet here about the Madeira Drive Green Wall.

Madeira Drive A5 leaflet Building Green 1509

Building Green is interested in working with the Victorian Society, Regency Society, Brighton & Hove Heritage Commission and others on the future of Madeira Drive. We want to ensure that the living history is protected and conserved as part of any plans for the restoration, refurbishment or development of Madeira Drive.

A letter to Simon Kirby MP received the following response (11 September 2015):

"Please be assured that the future of Madeira Drive is an issue I am continuing to work hard on and I will certainly keep your comments in mind. I have recently invited the Coastal Communities Minister to the Terraces to discuss the situation and to see what Government funding may be available."

Building Green counted well over 100 mature spindle trees on the green wall last week – each over 130 years old. 100 plant species have been found in total, and the wall will become the first statutory local wildlife site of it’s kind in the UK when the Council adopt part 2 of the City Plan soon.

Madeira Drive Green Wall sign on the ramp to Marine Parade

Check out Building Green’s timeline for Madeira Drive through history.

September 19, 2015 by James Farrell

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

Big Nature in the Biosphere, Sat 3^rd 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.