garden@risc.org.uk

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National Gardens Scheme Open days

Introduction

Story of the Roof Garden

Plants

Food Issues

Permaculture

Forest Gardens

Visits: Schools and Groups

Health and safety Notice

Open days and Volunteers

Press Clippings

Bulletin Board

Photo Albums:
Peter Savage Garden Photography

Construction

Plants

Vistas

Garden Tour Movie
(Media File 10mb) Suitable For Broaband

Roof garden;
credits & roll of honour

See Livingroofs.org for case study notes

History of the gardens' development

The original idea for a roof garden was conceived by the RISC Collective as a way to solve the problem of a leaking flat roof and create an exciting educational resource.

Pip French researched the practicalities of green roof construction, especially the key elements of water proofing and load bearing.

A course run by Mike Feingold convinced the Collective that a permaculture design would fit in with the aims of the garden and a member of the Collective, Jessica Witchell, had worked on a permaculture project in Nepal.

Rod Leith, Jessica and Martin Mikhail wrote funding applications. Lottery funding (SEED) was secured to mend the roof and construct the garden. Further grants from Landfill Tax paid for the planting and a three year education project (Growing Our Futures).

Jessica and Martin took responsibility for implementation and employing contractors:

• RAM Roof Garden Consultancy Ltd were responsible for the design of the roof system which provides waterproofing and drainage.
• M&J Flat Roofing Ltd were the contractors.
• Paul Barney designed the garden and planting scheme and supplied specialist plants from his Edulis Nursery.
• Steve Hunter carried out the hard landscaping. A team of volunteers, supervised by Jessica and Paul Barney, did the initial planting.
• Ernest Warren of Hitech Energy Ltd installed the rainwater harvesting system, including the wind turbine and solar panels. This basic system and controls have since been significantly redesigned by Stephen Loundes, an AT professional and project volunteer.
• Decking was laid by Cathy Growney and a team of international volunteers.

Once the planting was complete, the 'Growing our Futures' Project coordinator, Steve Jones (2002-2005) was responsible for bringing these diverse elements into some kind of overall shape, developing the profile of the garden and turning the whole into a coherent and continuing project.

Dave Richards took over as coordinator in 2005. He has been working with the garden volunteer coordinator, Mary Tindall, to learn the lessons of the first four years’ experience, and plan for the future development of the garden. This includes additional educational materials, increased water harvesting capacity to flush RISC’s toilets, and a solar water heater (funding permitting!).

Countless volunteers have been involved at all stages of the creation and development of the garden. Those deserving an individual mention include: Katia Richardson, John Hogget, Angi Toller... and many more.

Dave and Steve are currently working together as 'Sector39', a sustainable garden design consultancy.