Have a garden…on your roof-By Iszi Taylor

What are roof gardens?

Cities are losing their ‘green spaces’ due to development and new buildings being constructed so it is becoming ever so much harder to find green areas. However, this is being overcome by the new suggestion of having roof gardens.

Air quality

These have many advantages, one is that it provides an increasingly better quality of air by the plants creating more oxygen and absorbing the pollutants such as carbon dioxide which is an advantage for every person in the city.

Plants

Secondly, by having a ‘sky garden’, there is space to grow produce such as vegetables and flowers which are always useful as it improves the view for the person and they can eat the produce, which saves both money and is beneficial for the environment.

Energy conservation

An additional advantage is for the heat of the building, by having a green roof it may mean that the building does not need air conditioning during summer and prevents overheating. This is due to the evaporation from the plants and vegetation, resulting in cooling down the building. Consequently, this means that less is spent on using energy to cool and condition the offices/flats etc.

Socialising

As well as this, there is a positive social aspect to having a sky garden, it is appropriate for if during lunch or breaks, and people can relax, talk, eat or chill out with co-workers which can improve friendships or even spiritually benefit the person by relaxing in a garden within a hectic city life.

How can you help?

You can find such gardens on famous building like the canary wharf and Barclay’s headquarters in London, along with many other smaller roof top gardens. If you want to create your own sky garden, you may not need planning permission and also ensure it is not somebody else’s territory…to avoid any brawls. Then you can simply buy rollable turf and plant any vegetable, shrubbery, fruit or flowers you wish. You may wish to add a bench or hammock …simply customise it how you wish and simply relax in your tranquil sky garden.

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