Gardening & Green roof - living roof

Landscape gardening and rewilding

Above: temple garden in Ipoh, Malaysia

To be properly green, one should 'rewild' a garden, not plant it out for human appreciation.

Rewilding is a broad term covering 'intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability' (Society for Ecological Restoration 2004). It is also used by green anarchists and anarcho-militants for going wild or feral as a human, which is eminently possible in a rewilded environment (or in the wild).

Larger scale rewilding would see huge nature parks with original flora and fauna across Europe and the United States. This is to return to the original eco system, prior to total control by humans over the last 2000 years.

These 'rewilds' would have original fauna such as wolves, bears, bison, eagles, owls, bats etc. And even genetically recreated creatures such as sabre-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths.

Some rewilding is beneficial to a large garden, as it creates a sense of calm and a back-to-nature atmosphere. Perhaps rewild the bottom of a suburban garden. Research the correct plants and conditions and the animals will come. Maybe the smaller ones!

The process

Larger landscape gardening companies are members of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). Many landscape gardeners aren't though. You will be happy with a smaller (cheaper) consultant if you know what you want and keep an eye on costs and quality.

Consultation process - what is it your garden for?

• Use of the garden - relaxation, dining, partying, play areas for children
• Style - contemporary, period, jungle, rewilded natural etc.
• Features - FSC timber decking, recycled stone or recycled brick terraces
• Water features - solar powered or natural
• Lighting - solar powered
• Plants - your choice, make sure good for insects and bugs
• How much parking is required - and add protected bicycle lockups
• Add external electrical source for eco cars even if you don't have one now
• Use an eco-friendly surface such as Grasscrete for the driveways

Existing garden survey

This is for complex gardens with unusual layouts, different levels, and/or large gardens.

Soil and land surveying is a professional job. Many things have to be considered such as position of buildings, manholes etc, trees, any damp proofing, water run-offs, other existing features such as ponds, boundaries, walls etc.

Land surveying and soil reports are professional jobs, and not be be done lightly as the risks are high.

Conceptual design

Shows all the planned features in detail and to scale. This might be FSC timber decking, recycled stone or brick terraces, brick detail, water features, trees, shrubs and plants etc.

Plants

Plant types depend on soil pH, soil structure and type (e.g. high clay or loam etc.)

Types of plants are up to taste but some are better for insects and small animals. Consult Google or a trained gardener and ecologist (not usually talking the same language as traditional gardeners like to clear away, and ecologists like it naturally wild).

Trees

Tree care is very skilled and it is important to always use a qualified Arborist.

Don't just hack away as you might kill the tree, and yourself! Some trees have preservation orders (TPOs) and then you can't touch them without Council permission.

See www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_ecology

See www.ser.org

See www.consultingarboristsociety.co.uk

Green roof - living roof

Here are some pictures, note it flowers in spring and summer, the green images are from the winter. These are views from the rear two first floor bedrooms. Every home should have a green roof. There are quite a lot as we really like the roof!

Above: Close up with bumble bee

Above: Winter view

Close up

Construction - final stage

They also prevent flooding as water run-off is reduced and slowed down. This is a big factor in urban areas as many gardens are concreted or paved over for car ports, or decked for play areas. This greatly increases run-off of rain water, which is why there are more urban flash floods now than prevously.

Green roofs also help absorb carbon emissions (slight but it all adds up). They also look very attractive compared to traditional grey slate or asphalt roofs.

Above: the Horniman Museum extension >

Above: green roof system diagram, courtesy of
Blackdown Horticultural Consultants Limited >

The subsurface is a high tech system that holds water for dry periods. They can be very heavy, from 80 kg / square metre to 365 kg. This means most roofs will have to be structurally reinforced.

Above: green roof build, courtesy of
Blackdown Horticultural Consultants Limited >

Grass green living roof (right) and gabion wall

New green roof information site >
http://www.livingroofs.org/

More on green living roofs >
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3054706.stm

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