Urban greening news
from Pritchard & Pritchard

The Green Roof Code 2021 has been released by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO) as part of World Green Roof Day. The first major update since 2014 now includes definitions, specifications and guidelines on blue roofs – roofs that incorporate sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – and biosolar roofs – green roof with solar panels. The code also now includes biodiversity net gain (BNG).

Members of the Green Roof Organisation (GRO) have worked together to install green roofs on 20 play structures at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which is on a mission to encourage people, after a year spent largely indoors, to reconnect with the incredible nature that surrounds them.

It is Mental Health Awareness Week and the focus this year is nature.

Read more about how nature is gaining ground in our cities as we all recognise the powerful health and wellbeing benefits it delivers.

Is a Blue Roof the New Green Roof?

We are celebrating #EarthDay 2021 with a look at the benefits of Blue Roofs and why they play such a valuable role in supporting sustainable cities in the face of extreme climate events.

What are the benefits of green roofs for people and buildings.  Learn more about the benefits of specifying living roofs.  How they can both support the environment the wellbeing of city dwellers and also how they can help add longevity to existing roof structures.

#WomeninConstructionWeek profile #3: Nikki Errington runs MMA Architectural, a leading supplier of stainless-steel wire-rope systems widely by the UK construction industry for supporting living walls/green façades, fencing animal enclosures and keeping car parks and bridges safe.

Vaso loves doing a job that helps make the City of London a nicer, cleaner and healthier place. With construction jobs with views like this why wouldn’t more women be attracted to the living roofs and walls business? P&P Women in Construction Week profile #2.

Only 14% of people working in construction in the UK are women, and most of those are in professional roles.  Charlotte Pritchard says let’s use #WomeninConstructionWeek to help change that by educating the young women about the opportunities in green roofs, green walls and sustainable construction.

When the much delayed UK Environment Bill becomes law, it will be obligatory for new developments to not only to protect, but also to improve the biodiversity of the plot by 10%. This means developers need to prove so-called biodiversity net gain (BNG) to receive planning permission. The provision of habitats and food through biodiverse living walls and roofs could play a major role in helping developers prove BNG.

One of the largest ‘blue’ storm-water-management roofing projects ever seen in London. Every roof in the development is blue and green. Half of the roofs are also solar. This proves that blue roofing works at scale for residential developments.

This considers the evidence and research supporting the sustainability and environmental benefits of green walls. This includes how living walls benefit people and society by helping to reduce pollution and nuisance; how living walls benefit buildings moderating temperature and noise, reduce energy consumption; how living walls help companies by reducing bills and improving corporate image.

In preparation for International Green Wall Day on Monday February 15^th, we are sharing seven record breaking and ground breaking living walls from around the world. #GreenWallDay.