Falkirk East’s MSP Angus Macdonald has given his backing to a new project from the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative to encourage local business and industry to install green roofs on their premises.
Mr Macdonald helped to launch the Glorious Green Roofs project, which is led by Buglife, the UK’s invertebrate charity, at special event hosted by Calachem in Grangemouth on Monday. Representatives from some key locally-based industries and businesses, together with local authorities, public bodies and charities were invited to the launch, where they heard about the multiple benefits of green roofs from some of the country’s leading experts.
Buglife’s Clare Dinham, described how green roofs can provide vital habitat for some of our most endangered invertebrates. She has been closely involved with the planning of a large number of iconic green roofs across the UK, including the roof of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London’s Transport Building, and Barclays Bank HQ.
Chris Langton and Richard Aldred, of Bauder UK, a leading installer of green roofs, discussed the technical aspects, and the benefits green roofs can bring to businesses, including financial savings, lower carbon emissions, and longer roof-life.
Explaining why he is supporting the project, Angus Macdonald said: “I was delighted to be asked to speak at the Glorious Green Roofs event and I am grateful to Calachem for providing the venue. I encourage industry in Grangemouth to get on board with the Green Roofs project. It provides an holistic environmental and industrial approach and makes the industrial complexes better looking and a nicer places to work.”
Buglife’s Suzanne Bairner commented: ‘We were delighted with the number of local businesses and other organisations that attended the event, and very grateful to Angus Macdonald, MSP, for his support. We would also like to say thank you to Calachem for their backing of this project and to John Walker, Calachem’s Estates and Utilities Manager, for hosting the event. Buglife is really excited to be working with Calachem, and others that have attended the event, in the future. Installing a green roof can be a win-win for business and wildlife, so it’s great that we have so much local support for the project.’
Through the Glorious Green Roofs project, which is funded as part of IFLI by the National Lottery through the National Heritage Lottery Fund, there is scope to help with some of the costs of installation, and Buglife is keen to hear from any local businesses that would like to find out more about installing a green roof on their premises. To discuss the project in more detail, contact Suzie Bairner, [email protected].
