What is a Green Roof / DIY Wildlife Friendly Project

This is something I have been meaning to write about for quite some time now, in my travels across the capital I am constantly reminded bout these great ideas including sometimes at properties I see during my working hours! Can you imagine how much nicer our cities and living areas would look if a large majority were covered in Living Green Roofs?

I have, in the past written an article on Eco Friendly buildings, here I am concentrating on Green Roofing at our homes or existing buildings, some people even create smaller ones on top of their bin sheds which are merely a few feet across and wide!
Although this is not a top priority right now for me (With all of my current projects ongoing), I will hereby make a pact that I will create at least one in my small garden on my rented property as well as one larger one (probably on top of my shed) on my Allotment (What is an Allotment?)

Examples of Green Roofs in a Modern Building Setting:

A Green Roof on an outdoor building – sometimes an Office at Home

Very Modern Outdoor Shelter incorporating a Green Roof

Green Roofed Seaside Housing Complex / Holiday Homes

According to the London Wildlife Trust, London itself loses around ”Two and a Half Hyde Park’s” Sized worth of Green Urban Habitat and Forage ground due mainly to Hard Surface Landscaping in front and back gardens across the capital – one small way to revert and give back even just a little is to Create a Green Roof on part or even the whole of a building on the specified property.

Structures such as Bin Sheds, Wood Pile Roofs, Garden Sheds, Garages, Outdoor Rooms, Office Blocks, Houses and even part of your Conservatory can be adapted to a Green Roof Structure!

Some Other Examples:

Countryside Cottage Green Roof

Outdoor Shed Green Roof With Climbing Vines

Wood Pile Green Roof made from a Birch Log Frame

Beatifully kept Shed Green Roof

An Innovative Bug Super Hotel as a Winter Habitat for various Insects, Arachnids etc.

Things to Consider before starting a Green Roof, and further comstruction information:

All Information Below is obtained from The Green Roof Centre’s Website

Extensive green roofs which are designed not to be trafficked and are therefore relatively undisturbed, can offer a very

good habitat for plants, birds and insects. There is evidence throughout Europe, that with the right design, green roofs

can encourage ground nesting birds such as lapwings, skylarks, oystercatchers and plovers.

Green roofs are able to create a “green corridor” through an urban environment helping the movement and dispersal

of wildlife.
– greenroofcode.co.uk

Other Links and Resources / How To:
Permaculture.co.uk Article 1

Permaculture.co.uk Article 2 – Good DIY

In the US

(Video) Incorporating Strawberries into an existing Green Roof

Rooftop Permaculture Site (Mini) Tour: Corfu, Greece.

Follow Kerry as he shows you the beginnings of his Permaculture system on his rooftop in Corfu Greece, now I will admit that at first in the video, he comes off as a Permie Newbie but if you check his channel and scan through the videos at the music school and other sites you get the gist that he knows far more than he seems to!!

One of his other videos is quite interesting, it really shows the permaculture way when he goes around getting cuttings and seed. from locals for fruit trees, grapes etc.
Remember, something you can buy at your local garden centre type store you can always get for free from a neighbour! How many fruit trees, bushes, nuts, vines etc. can be propagated from cuttings? … many!! All of my grapes, figs & Blackberries are successfully grown from cuttings, the secret is Honey!

Let’s hope that one day when Kerry finishes the main part/s of his project at the school, that he gets the time to properly develop his rooftop garden into something that can inspire those who have no garden, I will definitely be keeping an eye out on his channel!