The roof at Abbey Hive was once a white roof. Now it is a green roof alive with wildlife. The community centre sits at the North end of Abbey road and it is hoped that rare beetles will colonise roof along with bees, butterflies and other invertebrates. The wildflowers that have blossomed over the two months since it was installed have already attracted a range of hymenopterans.
Designed by Dusty Gedge of the GRC, the roof was funded by SITA NATURE ENHANCED funds. The project was delivered by Buglife in association with livingroofs.org.
Original white roofs appear to have been originally designed to have soils and vegetation on the building. When the waterproofing came up for renewal it was the perfect opportunity to add a little beetlemania to the roof.
Long term Green Roof Research on beetles and other invertebrates
Studies in the UK and Switzerland show that green roofs can attract rare invertebrates, including beetles. The Abbey Hive green roof has been planted out with a variety of wildflowers including Autumn Hawkbit, (Leontodon autumnalis), which is the host plant for a rare ground beetle. This beetle has been found on the Laban Dance Centre and is an important biodiversity action plan species for the London Olympics.
Installation
The roof was installed in July 2011 by Landmark Livingroofs Ltd using an Optigreen system as the basis of the green roof. And intricate design of varied substrates and wildflowers was created for the Buglife Project by Dusty, with Dr. G.Kadas, is well known for his work on green roofs and biodiversity. Two months on the green roof is alive and over the years will hopefully develop into a wildlife meadow rich in beetles!
This a perfect example of with the right knowledge and understanding of green roofs ‘biodiverse’ green roofs can be created that fulfill the all the benefits of green roofs and yet provide for targeted wildlife. the use of the off the shelf solutions is one way to achieve green roofing but a design lead process can achieve exemplar results. This is what GRC specialises in and has a track record of delivering.
The Abbey Hive joins other green roofs in the Buglife Project designed by GRC that are being monitored for rare invertebrates including UEL Green Roof Field Station, the Islington Municapal Offices, Lewisham Council and 55 Broadway.
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