Maximising biodiversity net gain with ‘lifetime’ living walls.

It is clear that biodiversity net gain can be a positive contributor for tackling climate change, however, the opportunity for positive impact is broader than that. How can we make best use of biodiversity net gain to achieve a wide range of benefits – for people, planet and profit?

Could the same scheme for delivering an on-site biodiverse habitat also reduce noise pollution from local traffic, improve air quality, regulate temperature or enhance the appearance of urban developments to make them more desirable places to live or work?

At London Wall Place, in the City of London, Make Architects and Spacehub had a vision to do just that. Creating a green oasis in the heart of the city, next to a busy road, and bringing nature to a concrete pedestrian high walk were part of their vision to enhance the local environment for years to come.

Green infrastructure specialists, ANS Global, were commissioned to create vertical façade living wall space that would improve biodiversity, as well as delivering social impact by improving the local environment, and having a positive impact on air quality and acoustics.

Plant palettes suitable to the location, based in indigenous species, were selected for the project, including plants that came from the Old London Wall as far back as the 1800s. Using a living wall system that includes a natural substrate (soil), meant greater flexibility in plant selection, allowing for native species, pollinator planting and sources of nectar, creating a new ecological habitat and nesting areas that encourage natural colonisation.

To complement the base planting and provide colour and variety, bulbs such as crocuses, snowdrops, bluebells, daffodils and other plants were selected to inhabit various microclimates across the location.

MAXIMISING BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN WITH ‘LIFETIME’ LIVING WALLS BY STEVE MCINTYRE, PRINCIPAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT CONSULTANT AT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALISTS, ANS GLOBAL

The government has announced that all developments in England must demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity. Not only that, but the habitats put in place must be managed for at least a 30 year lifespan. With this new focus not just on protecting but enhancing natural habitats, and putting into reverse years of decline in plant and animal species, how can landscape and urban designers find creative solutions to meet these requirements?

What is biodiversity net gain?

Biodiversity net gain is an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before. The Environment Bill, currently making its way through Parliament and expected to receive royal ascent this year, will mandate that all developments in England demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity in or near development sites, after a two-year transition period. The new minimum biodiversity net gain legal requirement means developers will be looking to landscapers and designers for find solutions where space to create habitat on site may be limited, or the viability of a site could be affected, especially in urban developments.

It is clear that biodiversity net gain can be a positive contributor for tackling climate change, however, the opportunity for positive impact is broader than that. How can we make best use of biodiversity net gain to achieve a wide range of benefits – for people, planet and profit?

Could the same scheme for delivering an on-site biodiverse habitat also reduce noise pollution from local traffic, improve air quality, regulate temperature or enhance the appearance of urban developments to make them more desirable places to live or work?

At London Wall Place, in the City of London, Make Architects and Spacehub had a vision to do just that. Creating a green oasis in the heart of the city, next to a busy road, and bringing nature to a concrete pedestrian high walk were part of their vision to enhance the local environment for years to come.

Green infrastructure specialists, ANS Global, were commissioned to create vertical façade living wall space that would improve biodiversity, as well as delivering social impact by improving the local environment, and having a positive impact on air quality and acoustics.

Plant palettes suitable to the location, based in indigenous species, were selected for the project, including plants that came from the Old London Wall as far back as the 1800s. Using a living wall system that includes a natural substrate (soil), meant greater flexibility in plant selection, allowing for native species, pollinator planting and sources of nectar, creating a new ecological habitat and nesting areas that encourage natural colonisation.

To complement the base planting and provide colour and variety, bulbs such as crocuses, snowdrops, bluebells, daffodils and other plants were selected to inhabit various microclimates across the location.

MAXIMISING BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN WITH ‘LIFETIME’ LIVING WALLS BY STEVE MCINTYRE, PRINCIPAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT CONSULTANT AT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALISTS, ANS GLOBAL

The government has announced that all developments in England must demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity. Not only that, but the habitats put in place must be managed for at least a 30 year lifespan. With this new focus not just on protecting but enhancing natural habitats, and putting into reverse years of decline in plant and animal species, how can landscape and urban designers find creative solutions to meet these requirements?

What is biodiversity net gain?

Biodiversity net gain is an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before. The Environment Bill, currently making its way through Parliament and expected to receive royal ascent this year, will mandate that all developments in England demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity in or near development sites, after a two-year transition period. The new minimum biodiversity net gain legal requirement means developers will be looking to landscapers and designers for find solutions where space to create habitat on site may be limited, or the viability of a site could be affected, especially in urban developments.

INTRODUCTION TO BLUE ROOF STORM WATER ATTENUATION SYSTEMS

Blue roof systems offer a sustainable alternative for minimising surface water run-off, providing source control as part of the Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) requirement on modern developments. Blue roofs are rated as the most sustainable technique in the CIRIA SuDS manual guidance based on their contribution to reducing the risk of flooding and pollution and their positive impact on the local landscape & wildlife ecosystems when combined with a green roof finish. With land at a premium, blue roofs allow the developer to maximise usage of any site, especially in city centre developments where underground storage systems are impractical and expensive to excavate.

Installation and Maintenance

Blue roof systems should be installed by an experienced and specialist contractor with supervision from the manufacturer, with provision for post installation quality checks and annual maintenance. Recent examples of blue roof installations include prestigious projects such as the Post Building, Royal College of Art and Rathbone Market in London, Middlewood Locks apartments in Manchester and the new Edinburgh St James retail development.

Environmental benefits

When combined with a green roof surface finish, blue roofs make an important environmental contribution including helping to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and reducing the urban heat island effect, absorbing low frequency sounds and promoting new wildlife ecosystems and biodiversity.

For more information visit: www.geogreen.co.uk/applications/blueroof-applications/

Close up of blue roof build up showing geotextile filters, void formers and height adjustable stainless steel restrictor chamber Rathbone Market Amenity Area, London

Jessica Beattie, Senior Landscape Architect at SpaceHub Design said:

“At London Wall Place our vision was to create a verdant landscape, with three gardens at different levels all connected by vertical planting. The idea of nature reclaiming the city, with wild and abundant character, meant that green walls were integral to the whole design. One of our main concepts was to create the impression of a native hedgerow on the high walk, with discovery species such as primroses and wild strawberries within the fabric. Using a soil-based living wall system quickly delivered abundant healthy growth as well as the opportunity to renew planting over time.”

Blue Roof Systems Green Roof Systems Porous Paving & Drainage

Geosynthetic Walls & Earth Structures

How can living walls best The two guides; “Using Urban deliver on biodiversity net gain? Green Infrastructure to Achieve Biodiversity Net Gain” and “Urban

Façade-bound green walls, like those Green Infrastructure Technical created at London Wall Place, have Guide” are available for free greater potential to support rich download at biodiversity than other systems, www.ansgroupglobal.com/buildingdue to the presence of soil and the with-biodiversity-net-gain-pr.

broad range of species that can be planted. When living wall systems don’t deliver biodiversity net gain, it is typically because they have been planted solely with non-native ornamental species that offer limited value to native biodiversity such as bees and burrowing insects, and result in poor condition. Living walls that are designed with a soil-based system that can support native species are more likely to fulfil biodiversity net gain requirements and provide a lasting impact. A soil-based system also gives longevity to the installation, setting it up to be a permanent feature of the urban landscape, making it more likely to meet the requirements of the upcoming Environment Bill, which sets out the requirement for habitats to be managed and monitored for a minimum of 30 years. A ‘lifetime’ living wall creates an alternative ecological habitat (including nesting areas), and provides benefits to the local environment for years to come. ANS Global has partnered with AECOM, the world’s premier infrastructure consulting firm, to produce two advice guides on incorporating urban green infrastructure within developments, designed to help professionals achieve biodiversity net gain in new developments. The guides lay out best practice methods in using the Biodiversity Metric to assess how urban green infrastructure contributes to achieving biodiversity net gain, as well as explaining the differences between green infrastructure habitats and illustrating how each habitat should be designed to ensure biodiversity units can be achieved.

Suppliers & Installers of Geosynthetics for Sustainable Roofing & Landscaping Applications Geogreen Solutions Ltd

E7 Meltham Mills Rd, Meltham, West Yorkshire, HD9 4DS t 01484 354835 | e info@geogreen.co.uk | w geogreen.co.uk

INTRODUCTION TO BLUE ROOF STORM WATER ATTENUATION SYSTEMS

Blue roof systems offer a sustainable alternative for minimising surface water run-off, providing source control as part of the Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) requirement on modern developments. Blue roofs are rated as the most sustainable technique in the CIRIA SuDS manual guidance based on their contribution to reducing the risk of flooding and pollution and their positive impact on the local landscape & wildlife ecosystems when combined with a green roof finish. With land at a premium, blue roofs allow the developer to maximise usage of any site, especially in city centre developments where underground storage systems are impractical and expensive to excavate.

Installation and Maintenance

Blue roof systems should be installed by an experienced and specialist contractor with supervision from the manufacturer, with provision for post installation quality checks and annual maintenance. Recent examples of blue roof installations include prestigious projects such as the Post Building, Royal College of Art and Rathbone Market in London, Middlewood Locks apartments in Manchester and the new Edinburgh St James retail development.

Environmental benefits

When combined with a green roof surface finish, blue roofs make an important environmental contribution including helping to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and reducing the urban heat island effect, absorbing low frequency sounds and promoting new wildlife ecosystems and biodiversity.

For more information visit: www.geogreen.co.uk/applications/blueroof-applications/

Close up of blue roof build up showing geotextile filters, void formers and height adjustable stainless steel restrictor chamber Rathbone Market Amenity Area, London

Jessica Beattie, Senior Landscape Architect at SpaceHub Design said:

“At London Wall Place our vision was to create a verdant landscape, with three gardens at different levels all connected by vertical planting. The idea of nature reclaiming the city, with wild and abundant character, meant that green walls were integral to the whole design. One of our main concepts was to create the impression of a native hedgerow on the high walk, with discovery species such as primroses and wild strawberries within the fabric. Using a soil-based living wall system quickly delivered abundant healthy growth as well as the opportunity to renew planting over time.”

Blue Roof Systems Green Roof Systems Porous Paving & Drainage

Geosynthetic Walls & Earth Structures

How can living walls best The two guides; “Using Urban deliver on biodiversity net gain? Green Infrastructure to Achieve Biodiversity Net Gain” and “Urban

Façade-bound green walls, like those Green Infrastructure Technical created at London Wall Place, have Guide” are available for free greater potential to support rich download at biodiversity than other systems, www.ansgroupglobal.com/buildingdue to the presence of soil and the with-biodiversity-net-gain-pr.

broad range of species that can be planted. When living wall systems don’t deliver biodiversity net gain, it is typically because they have been planted solely with non-native ornamental species that offer limited value to native biodiversity such as bees and burrowing insects, and result in poor condition. Living walls that are designed with a soil-based system that can support native species are more likely to fulfil biodiversity net gain requirements and provide a lasting impact. A soil-based system also gives longevity to the installation, setting it up to be a permanent feature of the urban landscape, making it more likely to meet the requirements of the upcoming Environment Bill, which sets out the requirement for habitats to be managed and monitored for a minimum of 30 years. A ‘lifetime’ living wall creates an alternative ecological habitat (including nesting areas), and provides benefits to the local environment for years to come. ANS Global has partnered with AECOM, the world’s premier infrastructure consulting firm, to produce two advice guides on incorporating urban green infrastructure within developments, designed to help professionals achieve biodiversity net gain in new developments. The guides lay out best practice methods in using the Biodiversity Metric to assess how urban green infrastructure contributes to achieving biodiversity net gain, as well as explaining the differences between green infrastructure habitats and illustrating how each habitat should be designed to ensure biodiversity units can be achieved.

Suppliers & Installers of Geosynthetics for Sustainable Roofing & Landscaping Applications Geogreen Solutions Ltd

E7 Meltham Mills Rd, Meltham, West Yorkshire, HD9 4DS t 01484 354835 | e info@geogreen.co.uk | w geogreen.co.uk

INTRODUCING ARBORADVANCE - GUARANTEEING LONG TERM PLANTING SUCCESS RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT REASONS, RIGHT WAY!

Recently GreenBlue questioned “are there enough green planners.” It is an ongoing concern that many busy planning departments are under-resourced with checking on activities on developments sites such as landscaping and tree planting having to take less of a priority. Many local plans emphasize the need for additional development to reduce the pressure on housing stock, and bring in much-needed revenues to local authorities – but is it at an environmental or even human cost?

Why are green planners essential?

If the desired outcome for any development is not only to avoid poorly planted trees but to create long term quality green infrastructure, then including expertise in green planning is critical. Alas, too often we see badly installed trees dying, being removed, and never replaced. GreenBlue Urban are strong advocates in planting for tree longevity, having documented the multiple and valuable benefits with our work with Treeconomics. Discover more in our detailed costbenefit analysis publication.

A well-planted tree should last for generations.

We are abundantly familiar with the assistance that urban trees can bring including health, social, monetary, and climate mitigation benefits. However, what is not always considered is the need of the tree as it, – we hope – matures. Considerations that need to be considered before granting permission to plant trees in urban areas include unwanted shading, excess leaf litter (wrong place) potential intrusion to buildings and highways (planting too close), pavement heave (lack of root management) and failures due to inadequate soil, water and air access will most certainly become a nuisance and the trees will have to be removed. Planning is a complex process with numerous stakeholders involved and thus, as we regularly repeat in our presentations.

Plant correctly – ArborAdvance

With over 30 years of experience in planting trees in the urban environment, GreenBlue Urban are industry experts. We know that for reasons including those mentioned above, urban trees often fail within 5-10 years of planting within a hard surface. This is an unnecessary calamity as if a tree is chosen, planted, and maintained correctly, there is no reason that this tree should not last its species potential lifespan. With continuing research and innovation that has given the industry the only fully compatible tree pit solution, AborSystem®, GreenBlue Urban are so confident of the efficacy of the system that we have introduced the worlds’ first urban tree warranty: ArborAdvance, which guarantees the health of a tree for a minimum 15 years. When ArborAdvance is specified, GreenBlue Urban will supply all of the products needed including the soil, oversee the first tree pit installation, require further tree pits to be photographed during ArborSystem installation and if all is approved, provide sign off, and make sure that an acceptable maintenance programme is in place – so critical within those early establishment years.

St Pauls planted 2003

Introducing

ArborAdvance: Wembley planted 2005

The world’s first

urban tree health GreenBlue ArborSystem Tree Pit Package

warranty

We are aware that failures can occur due to circumstances beyond our control; pest/disease, weather, vehicles, or deliberate damage, and understandably, these potentially fatal issues are excluded from the warranty. Although there is a cost involved in the warranty and annual inspection and testing, this is surely a worthy investment to any client – the sure knowledge that trees will not need replacement and the assurance that they will continue to thrive, bringing the crucial return on investment but more than that, provide a well-designed, attractive, sustainable, and successful development to be proud of. All that we are pleading for is that Developers, Landscape Architects and Planners collaborate early in the GreenBlue Urban are so confident of the efficacy of the design process to provide successful outcomes. With the many positive system that we have introduced the worlds’ first urban tree legislative changes to enable green infrastructure, let us plan correctly warranty: ArborAdvance, which guarantees the health of from the start. Here at GreenBlue a tree for a minimum 15 years. Urban we can help with continued education (with a range of CPD’s,) support your projects with technical guidance, show you many successful Visit greenblue.com/arboradvance case studies and now guarantee trees against system failure!

GreenBlue Urban Ltd

greenblue.com www.greenblue.com 01580 830800

The Old Bailey, London (Planted 2005)

INTRODUCING ARBORADVANCE - GUARANTEEING LONG TERM PLANTING SUCCESS RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT REASONS, RIGHT WAY!

Recently GreenBlue questioned “are there enough green planners.” It is an ongoing concern that many busy planning departments are under-resourced with checking on activities on developments sites such as landscaping and tree planting having to take less of a priority. Many local plans emphasize the need for additional development to reduce the pressure on housing stock, and bring in much-needed revenues to local authorities – but is it at an environmental or even human cost?

Why are green planners essential?

If the desired outcome for any development is not only to avoid poorly planted trees but to create long term quality green infrastructure, then including expertise in green planning is critical. Alas, too often we see badly installed trees dying, being removed, and never replaced. GreenBlue Urban are strong advocates in planting for tree longevity, having documented the multiple and valuable benefits with our work with Treeconomics. Discover more in our detailed costbenefit analysis publication.

A well-planted tree should last for generations.

We are abundantly familiar with the assistance that urban trees can bring including health, social, monetary, and climate mitigation benefits. However, what is not always considered is the need of the tree as it, – we hope – matures. Considerations that need to be considered before granting permission to plant trees in urban areas include unwanted shading, excess leaf litter (wrong place) potential intrusion to buildings and highways (planting too close), pavement heave (lack of root management) and failures due to inadequate soil, water and air access will most certainly become a nuisance and the trees will have to be removed. Planning is a complex process with numerous stakeholders involved and thus, as we regularly repeat in our presentations.

Plant correctly – ArborAdvance

With over 30 years of experience in planting trees in the urban environment, GreenBlue Urban are industry experts. We know that for reasons including those mentioned above, urban trees often fail within 5-10 years of planting within a hard surface. This is an unnecessary calamity as if a tree is chosen, planted, and maintained correctly, there is no reason that this tree should not last its species potential lifespan. With continuing research and innovation that has given the industry the only fully compatible tree pit solution, AborSystem®, GreenBlue Urban are so confident of the efficacy of the system that we have introduced the worlds’ first urban tree warranty: ArborAdvance, which guarantees the health of a tree for a minimum 15 years. When ArborAdvance is specified, GreenBlue Urban will supply all of the products needed including the soil, oversee the first tree pit installation, require further tree pits to be photographed during ArborSystem installation and if all is approved, provide sign off, and make sure that an acceptable maintenance programme is in place – so critical within those early establishment years.

St Pauls planted 2003

Introducing

ArborAdvance: Wembley planted 2005

The world’s first

urban tree health GreenBlue ArborSystem Tree Pit Package

warranty

We are aware that failures can occur due to circumstances beyond our control; pest/disease, weather, vehicles, or deliberate damage, and understandably, these potentially fatal issues are excluded from the warranty. Although there is a cost involved in the warranty and annual inspection and testing, this is surely a worthy investment to any client – the sure knowledge that trees will not need replacement and the assurance that they will continue to thrive, bringing the crucial return on investment but more than that, provide a well-designed, attractive, sustainable, and successful development to be proud of. All that we are pleading for is that Developers, Landscape Architects and Planners collaborate early in the GreenBlue Urban are so confident of the efficacy of the design process to provide successful outcomes. With the many positive system that we have introduced the worlds’ first urban tree legislative changes to enable green infrastructure, let us plan correctly warranty: ArborAdvance, which guarantees the health of from the start. Here at GreenBlue a tree for a minimum 15 years. Urban we can help with continued education (with a range of CPD’s,) support your projects with technical guidance, show you many successful Visit greenblue.com/arboradvance case studies and now guarantee trees against system failure!

GreenBlue Urban Ltd

greenblue.com www.greenblue.com 01580 830800

The Old Bailey, London (Planted 2005)