Lindum launches new Biodiverse Green Roof Mat at Ecobuild 2010
A new Biodiverse Green Roof Mat will be launched at Ecobuild 2010 by Lindum, one of the UK’s leading turf specialists. The new pre-grown vegetative mat is designed to provide a biodiverse and visually pleasing alternative to pure sedum blankets.
It consists of an attractive mixture of drought tolerant wildflowers, herbs, sedums and perennials that flower from April to September, providing an excellent habitat for bumblebees, butterflies, birds and invertebrates, whilst still offering the drought tolerant characteristics of sedums.
The Biodiverse Green Roof Mat has been developed by Lindum, working closely with Dr Nigel Dunnett of the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, who has extensive knowledge of green roofs, in particular, wildflowers. It has been developed to provide a habitat for conserving biodiversity in urban environments, and to be able to survive long periods without rainfall, a key feature given the UK’s changing climate.
Dr. Nigel Dunnett, University of Sheffield said: “We have been working with Lindum for a number of years now to help develop a range of products which are suitable for green roofs. Research points to the huge potential of wildflower roofs in conserving diverse habitats in urban areas. Green roofs that include wildflowers in the mix attract a wider range of wildlife than pure sedum mixtures and offer high visual appeal over a long season. Sedums are included in the mixture to help to sustain the mix in particularly dry years.”
Requiring a deeper substrate than a minimum substrate sedum roof, the Biodiverse Green Roof provides an improvement in storm water attenuation, an increasingly important attribute of green roofs, which help to reduce run-off and flooding as well as helping with building insulation and reducing the urban heat island effect.
Britain’s stricken bumble bee population will also benefit from the new Biodiverse Green Roof mix. According to recently published research green roofs are systematically used as habitats by wild bees, with multiple forms of vegetation attracting twice the number of bee species compared with green roofs planted with pure sedums.
Stephen Fell, Managing Director of Lindum said: “With the rising interest in green roofs, the Lindum Biodiverse Green Roof Mat offers a different type of instant green roof vegetation solution. Being able to move away from the monoculture of a traditional sedum roof to a thriving multi-species vegetation layer grown in a sustainable way is a great step forward for encouraging biodiversity in the urban environment.”
Lindum’s Biodiverse Green Roof Mats are supplied ready to roll out as an instant vegetation layer with the plants already established and growing in a biodegradable felt mat made from recycled British textiles.
For more information on Lindum’s Biodiverse Green Roof Mats and other green roof solutions that the company offers visit Stand 1366 at Ecobuild 2010 exhibition which takes place at Earls Court, London 2-4 March 10 or see www.turf.co.uk