Nicky Scott’s green roof
Chagford
A meadow on a roof, inspired by those found on wooden cabins in Norway.
When I first went to Norway many years ago I really loved all the log cabins with green roofs, some even had animals grazing on them. So when I had a new shed built for me a couple of years ago, I said I wanted to have a wildflower meadow on it.
This meant making the structure stronger than normal to hold up the extra weight. I used Greenseal as the membrane rather than Norwegian birch bark. I put the poorest soil I could on top mixed with some sand and made a few little piles of stones here and there too.
I sowed all kinds of seeds up there, some annuals, including yellow rattle, biennials and some perennials too. I also planted several plants to get it going in the first year.
In Norway they even put green roofs on noticeboards and any little structure possible. It would be so lovely to see that idea taking off here.
The shed roof is alive with bees and other insects and takes very little maintenance, just a little bit of cutting back so far.
Other "Me and my Meadow" stories
Bridford Trust Hay Meadow
Bridford, Teign Valley, Devon
An area of mixed woodland and grassy open spaces for community use, converted from farmland into a village green, but also including a hay meadow.
John and Katharine Milverton
Hittisleigh, Exeter
Hittisleigh Barton Woods and Meadows Project, Exeter. Bringing 143 acres into the best condition possible for wildlife
Andrew and Kate Brown
Near Cotehele, Cornwall
A wildlife haven in the Tamar Valley with traditional hay meadows, orchards and woodland
Rebecca and Chris Gethin
Higher Pudsham, Buckland-in-the-Moor
A former pony and goat paddock is now a wildlife sanctuary.