Tag Archive for: London
Biodiversity features were added to 8 existing blocks of green roofs by The Urban Greening Company.
Log piles, sand piles and rope coils acting as biodiversity features.
Our work will help to bring more wildlife and invertebrates into the city.
Working with kingston landscapes on this project we had the use of a crane. This made the access of materials much more accessible.
sand piles and log piles
biodiversity features
Recent green roof restorations carried out by TUGC.
The two seperate case studies below highlight two examples of how green roofs might fail.
There can be numerous factors resulting in failing green roofs.
Many clients write off their green roof if there are issues but we can highlight the issue and provide solutions.
Case Study 1:
failing green roof
alternative planting
A small green roof on a residential property in Islington.
We replaced the sedum which was failing due to limited light exposure. We stripped the sedum, created a higher depth of compost and soil blend and replanted a mixture of shade tolerant ferns, grasses and ivy’s.
Case Study 2:
The first picture below shows a green roof just after installation last summer at Beckenham Methodist Church. The roof light and glass were fitted after the green roof and the second picture shows the roof completely trashed from traffic back and forth. Third picture is after our return to add extra substrate and sedum to the roof. We see too many roofs trashed from other workmen and trades, It’s not a nice sight and hopefully fewer incidents like this occur. Having said this they are always salvageable and we are more than willing to help on any green roof restorations.
after initial installation.
destroyed green roof.
new sedum installed
Bee hotel design, creation and Installation by the Urban Greening Company. We have now installed numerous bee hotels across London attracting pollinators back into the city. This is something we feel strongly about at TUGC and we want to see bee hotels across the whole of London. These bee hotels have consisted of various shapes and sizes to meet our clients wishes.
We have used Marine Ply as the frames and a number of infill materials such as bricks and slates with crevices for the solitary bees to work their way into. We have also used logs from prime coppice woodland and bamboo for nesting areas.
Below are just some examples of our specifically made bee hotels in the last year.
Bee Hotel installed in Elephant and Castle
Bee hotel ready to be installed at Battersea power station
Nine Elms development working with elite landscapes
These are all examples of recent green roof maintenance carried out by the urban greening company team.
They are all perfect examples of how a green roof should look for this time of year with autumn coming to an end. However they have not always looked this good. We always recommend bi-annual maintenance visits and it is thanks to this maintenance that these roofs are looking so great.
Case Study 1
The roof below is situated at a care home in Highgate, North London. Residents look straight out onto the roof from their windows and seeing lush vegetation is something we want for them to enjoy. A couple of years ago this roof was not in the best of shape. Bi-annual green roof maintenance has seen the roof improve with each visit.
Using a bauder specialised fertiliser in the spring supplying the roof with much needed nutrients for the coming summer months and removing any weeds. This has seen the sedum flourish and we now see sedum coverage across the whole roof.
early morning sun
lush sedum coverage
aerial view of roof
Case Study 2
Another example below but this time a wildflower roof. Historically this roof could be quite patchy and not have a huge amount of vegetation coverage. Through extensive weed removal and keeping on top of any invasive vegetation we have seen wildflowers thrive. This picture shows some white star jasmine trailing onto the roof for added aesthetics.
wildflower roof
Case Study 3
The clients on the next roof were concerned about bare patches on their green roof in the heart of the city of London. As this was our first visit we decided to add extra sedum cuttings along with some generous amounts of substrate to act as a growing medium. Upon our return we were pleased to see this had worked. It is now a case of keeping on top of this roof with regular maintenance to keep it in top condition.
A 10 metre high living wall has helped enhance a wooden decked courtyard area at three storey flat conversion in the centre of the historic leather market in Bermondsey, London.
The 30 sq.m. wall containing 1500 plants offering colour and depth in a tight compact space.
We regularly maintain this wall keeping it in good shape all year round.
Living wall at Bermondsey London with the shard in the distance.
