The aim of the green roof was to provide added value by assisting the control of storm water, humidity, noise, heat and pollution. A by-product of this was to create a haven for local wildlife using a pond and recycled material. A weather station and webcam was installed for research by The Green Roof Centre to record wildlife on the roof. According to Nigel Dunnett, Director of The Green Roof Centre and the designer, the key design goal was “to create plantings with dramatic visual impact for much of the year, high biodiversity value, and minimal resource and maintenance requirements.”
Almost 700 plants were planted by volunteers from within the community; substrate depths range from between 100 mm and 500 mm. Green Roof Elements: A Wildflower biodiverse roof using seed mix from Pictorial Meadows. Plants used included directly sown annuals for high visual impact, i.e., cornflowers, Limestone grassland mix, Roof meadow mix, i.e., urban ‘Brownfield’ site species, including snap dragons and natural colonisation. The mixes contained no grasses due to their invasive nature.
Main design principles:
- Low input and maintenance requirements
- Use of locally sourced recycled materials
- Make the most of the structural capacity of the roof
- Reflect local habitats
- Maximise educational opportunities
Back in 2009 our green roof featured on BBC’s Newsround.
You can view the video and story here. Sharrow School on Newsround
