Established in 1989, EcoSchemes Ltd is a small business providing quality ecological and sustainable development consultancy services to clients in the public and private sectors.
The company`s directors and associates have over 80 years cumulative experience working in the environmental field and between them can offer expertise in the following areas:
- Surveys (including Phase 1, Phase 2, NVC, River Corridor Surveys.)
- Protected species surveys and advice
- Habitat restoration and creation
- Conservation strategies and management plans
- Ecological impact assessment
- Green roofs
- Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
- Brownfield ecology
Green Roofs and Green Facades (Building-integrated vegetation)
There is huge potential for building-integrated vegetation (green roofs and green facades) to benefit the conservation of biodiversity in urban areas. In Germany, the country that leads the world in roof greening, 13.5 million square metres of green roof were installed in 2001.
Green roofs are not new – from ancient times, through the Italian Renaissance, on to the garden city movement of the late 19th century and the modernist movement of the 20th century there have always been some proponents but it was not until after the second world war in Switzerland and Germany that the idea really grew into an industry in its own right.
Green roofs may be divided into three categories: intensive (equivalent to parks or gardens); simple intensive (with well maintained lawns or ground cover); and extensive (low maintenance and normally low growing turf, moss or sedum mats)
The various benefits of green roofs include:
- Attenuation of storm water run-off
- Absorption of air pollutants and dust
- Reduction in the `urban heat island` effect
- Provision of wildlife habitat
- Attractive open space
- Health benefits
- Protecting the building fabric from ultra violet radiation and temperature fluctuations
- Reducing costs, including drainage, heating, air conditioning
Almost any habitat that can be re-created could in theory be created on a roof, however in practice technical and financial constraints mean that in temperate climates grasslands, sedum mats, mosses and arrested pioneer communities will tend to dominate. In the UK, there is currently interest in using green roofs as mitigation for habitats lost during urban regeneration, especially on brownfield sites. Studies of natural colonisation on neglected roofs provide useful guidance for those who may be designing green roofs for ecological mitigation purposes. There is little information relating to the fauna of green roofs, however a study by Stephan Brenneisen of several roofs in Basel, Switzerland has shown that they support many invertebrates including red data book species and have a significant positive effect on several bird species (including black redstart - which makes this work of special interest for urban biodiversity conservation in England).
Species listed in UK Biodiversity Action Plans which could benefit from green roofs include bats, several birds, beetles, flies, bees, wasps and spiders. Green roofs can provide many general environmental and associated aesthetic and health benefits. We would like to see green roofs established in significant numbers in urban areas; when the numbers and total area covered by green roofs reaches a certain threshold the benefits will become really evident. In order to refine the design of green roofs for biodiversity conservation, some fundamental research and experimentation is required. Suggestions for research include studies of patterns of colonisation and succession on green roofs of different types over a number of years and experimentation with different designs.
List of projects include:
- London 2012 Olympic Bid. Advisers on habitat creation in proposed Olympic Park. Lea Valley. Includes river restoration and brown roofs. For Nicholas Pearson Associates/Buro Happold.
- National Cycle Network, Bath and North East Somerset Council. Habitat surveys, bat surveys, badger surveys and licence application, impact assessment, mitigation planning, conservation management plans.
- Shoreham Cement Works, Sussex. Report on ecological constraints and opportunities for quarry redevelopment site for Studio Engleback
- Thorpe Park, Surrey. Ecologists for renewal of theme park near SSSI designated for wintering wildfowl.
- Talbot Heath, Poole. Impact assessment for proposed residential development. Advice on heath restoration, reptiles, Dartford warblers, sustainable drainage system (SuDS), cat predation. With Adams Loxton Partnership
- Willstock Farm, Bridgewater, Somerset. Proposed housing scheme. Ecological Impact assessment for Diversity Consultants/Bloor Homes.
- Green Roof Research Report No. 498 for English Nature.
- Natural History Museum, London - Design and construction supervision for a wildlife garden in the museum grounds, fronting Cromwell Road (for London Conservation Services Ltd.)
- Former Power Station, London Borough of Barking. Meadow and woodland habitat creation project on a pulverised fuel ash site (for London Conservation Services Ltd/ National Grid.)
- Blashford Lakes. Complex of gravel pits. Appropriate assessment for Hampshire County Council
- Roding Valley Park, L B Redbridge. Ecological and Visual Impact Assessments for cyclepath.
- Paupers Wood Withington Hospital, Manchester. Management plan for urban woodland (for Studio Engleback/ Countryside Properties plc)
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