Planting non native species may boost local wildlife

As the bumble bees buzz happily around the plum blossom on the tree at my house in NZ I am reminded of how many people there are in New Zealand and Australia who are ripping out "non natives" and planting something with nothing for the bees, like an ornamental grass bed instead. We have gone too far in our puritanical 'native only' approach to planting. We need to mix it up a little so we have some (non invasive) flowering deciduous trees and smaller plants in among the native species in our gardens, for the bees as well as for some seasonal variation, and fresh fruit.

It's the same in the UK. The native planters have done wonderful things in terms of bringing back the hedgerows, but they can be a strident voice at times. As with all things in life we need balance. In the UK we need evergreens, fruiting flowering plants to balance the lack of food at certain times of the year when natives are dormant.

Bees are dying in record numbers. It is time to stop using pesticides in our gardens, and on our crops. The countryside is dying as we kill off everything that gets in the way of profit. As birds are coming back in cities, so we need our urban centres to be a haven for bees and other beneficial insects. One day we will educate the farmers of their need to farm not just  organically, but mindfully. Today let's start at home.

For every action there is a reaction. Let's keep our actions positive.

Time Magazine the Plight of the Honey Bee

Greening the urban environment and local food growing

Pop up gardens, local food growing initiatives, community gardens, are part of our delivery of sustainable landscape design. Yesterday I ran a 2 hour studio session for 3rd year spatial design students, looking at Edible Cities around the world. The kids (they were all at least 20 years younger than me, so I shall call them kids :-) ) asked good questions, some around their concerns for the economic vitality of rural areas if food production moved to the city. It is very easy to simplify complex problems and look at parts rather than the whole. The students brought their wide ranging backgrounds to the debate and looked at the big picture. We are all part of a much bigger ecosystem and economic system. What we do in one place will have an effect in another.

As we strive to create green urban environments , we must also consider rural effects. However, that must not stop us from our quest for healthy, liveable cities. Taking brownfield space and turning it a bio-diverse green is good for us and good for the environment, wherever it may lie.

Development has been an economic aim since the industrial revolution. Now we must link that with environmental and social development. But first people have to recognise that there is a problem that needs fixing. In Boston great things are being done as a start through  http://thefoodproject.org/local-food

Spa style treatment at home

contemporary patio design by san francisco landscape architect Huettl Landscape Architecture

The stone and water feature combination looks fabulous in this photo from Houzz. When modified a little and placed in a rain forest setting the design will really come alive for our clients. - There is nothing staid or boring about sustainable landscape design. Rather it honours traditional crafts and builds on the natural environment. Spas and eco resort style hotels rely on landscape designers to enhance the setting. This time though it is a private client who gets the benefit of a spa style landscape treatment at home :-)

Green roofs - create more urban space that will hold rainwater

As part of our design for sustainable living service, we will work with to design and create green roofs, for private residences, on shed roofs in kindergartens, on city office blocks. Bee hives can be incorporated into the green roof design, as well as bio-diverse planting.


The goal is create more urban space that will hold rainwater where it falls to diminish the risk of sewer overflows and improve the overall water quality in the region.  Of course, this requires specialised design and precise installation, so applicants should work with an experienced green roof company like Greenstone Design UK 

Permeable paving and sustainable landscapes

Permeable Solutionz resin bound natural river pebbles

As we grapple with the challenges surrounding climate change and urban drainage issues we have an opportunity to make a real difference. SUDS or sustainable urban drainage schemes are mandated in some jurisdictions. In other areas with awareness or public budget lags, individuals can make a difference, without being told they have to.

Permeable paving includes attractive resin bound aggregates, loose aggregates and non mortared paving blocks. Natural resin bound aggregates have the advantage of being firm under foot or wheel, while still offering 30m sec/m2 flows.

Sustainable landscape design requires us to look at hard landscaping with fresh eyes. We need products that look good, feel great under bare feet ( we are sensory designers too), are durable and work well for all users.

Going green. Thinking green. Urban greenspace, air quality, and public health

It is no surprise that your risk of heart attack increases for up to 6 hours after exposure to high levels of vehicle exhaust pollutants.

Simplistically put, this presents us with a couple of questions:
1. Do we deal with the source and opt for low carbon technology-low polluting cars?
or
2. Do we look at the design of our streets, plant more trees, open up airflows by keeping buildings low alongside major roadways?

Health Impact Assessments are now used as part of the planning toolkit for new developments. Alone they cannot change public opinion, let alone industry preference for profit. Knowing the health impact, the cost to society, individual cost (potential for someone we love suffering a heart attack), in conjunction with public and corporate education we can make a difference. Option 2 will provide short term benefits. In the long term option 1 has to be the way forward as greenhouse gas levels rise, costs increase, and public health diminishes. One without the other, in any timeframe, is a poor solution however.

Studies from all around the world continue to show us that without urban greenspace we suffer reduced public health. When that greenspace is well designed to include cycleways, walkways, play areas, community ammenities our demand for motorised trasnsport is reduced, while we gain from an increased sense of wellbeing.

Sustainable communities thrive on coherent street-scapes, routeways where wildlife-friendly planting, the elderly, children, bikes and play can happily coexist. Our generation is the last to remember free play, schools without allergy advisors. The doomsayers believe we have tipped the balance too far and can do nothing to change the environment our children will inherit. I believe we can make a difference. Options 1 and 2 are happening now. We just need to be get with the program!

Urban design for sustainable living

Christchurch is another example of a city rethinking its basic layout and design. Open space and low rise develoment is vital in earthquake prone areas. Out of the challenge of natural disaster comes an opportuntity to pause and design along more sustainable greenspace lines.

The challenge comes in creating the linkages between the various parts of the city. Paris developed Nation as the commercial hub, and kept the city centre low rise with historic parks and gardens. Nation is hated as a souless landscape of highrise, wind tunnel, shaded streets. However the parks and gardens of the city centre are beautiful and attract residents and visitors alike. The river is an integral part of the city and people are aware of its rise and fall and the impact that has on the economy (barge traffic stops when the river is in flood as barges cannot fit under the bridges or through the tunnels), the peripherique (city ring road) closes when flooded. The residents of the city are aware of their environment, with a much closer relationship with the natural world than in other great cities.

I believe part of the success of the urban design of Paris comes from the connections between people and the environment. Those who work in Nation do so for as short a time as possible before returning home to the suburbs, the banlieu and arrondissements of the centre, to the parks and gardens, the window box, balcony and roof terrace oases that make up the greenspace of Paris.

Of all the world cities I have lived in, I believe it is no suprise that the people of Paris are the happiest. They have beautifully designed public open space, can observe the seasons, grow their own air filtering greenery, fruit and flowers, experience nature, even if they live in a compact apartment. Having lived and worked in 4 continents and several islands I have developed an awareness of design in a wide range of cultural and climatic zones. A happy, healthy, sustainable lifestyle is what we aspire to. I founded the design practice Greenstone Design UK to address this need.

How to cost effectively fit people into office spaces, serviced with good transport links, proximate housing, shops, schools, healthcare and growing space, away from fault lines, flood plains and areas of ecological significance is the question. I think Paris has many of the answers.