The black redstart is synonymous with green roofs for me. Importantly, the story of the black redstart is a story of renewal. It is a story of colonising destroyed and forgotten parts of London.
London
Foxes – A mammal for London
I used to see foxes when I was a child in the countryside but rarely. Since I moved to London, 30 years ago, they are almost a daily sight.
A hairstreak on the heath
The hairstreak moved around the ragwort unperturbed. For ten minutes it slowly worked the golden florets.
Habitats – wildflower verges and buses
Wildflower verges – we need more wildflower verges in London like those on Blackheath. Blanket mowing of roadside grass really needs to become the rarity not the norm in London.
Starlings – murmurations to breakfast
Starlings summon up images of great murmurations in the sky. Flocks of wheeling dark dots morphing and merging as they come into roost.
Wetlands, Rain Gardens and PDX summit
Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking Amy Chomowicz from Portland (PDX) onto the wetland green roof at the V&A museum.
Wildlondoncomp – Bee wolves and why?
The Bee wolf main claim to fame is that it hunts honey bees. Hence its name ‘wolf’. But it is also a good pollinator.
Buildings, birds, Wildlondoncomp
Anyone familiar with my work over the last 20 or so years in London will know my association with the black redstart. It was in fact, how i became involved in green roofs.
London habitats 1 – green roofs
Habitats for wildlife in London are varied. Would most Londoners think of green roofs in the capital as wild space? I suspect not. And I am pretty sure most Londoners would not be aware of their existence.
Butterfly Count 2015
The Big Butterfly Count has only a few days to go. It finishes on 9th August. Since 17th July I have been out counting on Blackheath. Map of...
Veronica by the Ravensbourne in Lewisham
The patch of Brooklime (Veronica Beccabunga) some few bumblebees and Honey bees. Some used the leaves to drink water others just collected nectar.
Early Spring Butterflies
Spring sunlight bathed the southern part of the bank in warmth. Life suddenly felt a whole lot better. A Comma (Polygonia c-album) was the first to catch my eye.
Black Redstarts on London Olympic Green Roof
Black Redstarts on the largest green roof at the London Olympic Site are breeding. So green roofs do work work for biodiversity and they do work for black redstarts.
April Leaves and Blossoms – my #treeyear
Although I have cheated a little and have two trees I am enjoying the differences.
Kingfisher Day – River Ravensbourne, Lewisham
Kingfisher corner is at the southern end of the park. If you go to visit just keep your eyes open.
Jackdaw – Court Jesters of the Crow World
The Jackdaw is a lovely bird. They used to nest in the chimney of my familial home in East Kent.
Reflections of being a Punk for a day
'The Barclays building in Canary Wharf has a green roof designed by former punk and urban ecologist Dusty Gedge of Livingroofs.org, who thinks it's...
First record of Shrill Carder Bee on a green roof
This September Dr. Stuart Connop and Dr. G. Kadas identified a Shrill carder bee (Bombus humilis). It was seen foraging on a green roof.
Green wall and Bird Boxes – City of London
This is Swiss style green walling. This has been installed relatively recently and the vegetation is doing well.
Laban – the story of the original rubble/brown roof
The Laban Dance Centre, the original rubble roof, brown roof was designed for black redstarts and laid in 2000.